Airbus A320 A350 deliveries rise as engine bottlenecks ease

Airbus A320

Airbus A320 A350 deliveries in the third quarter show diverging fortunes for single-aisle and widebody programmes. Airbus delivered 201 aircraft in July–September, up from 170 in the second quarter and 174 a year earlier. A321neo output accelerated as LEAP engine supply improved and reduced the number of grounded A320-family gliders. However, A350 deliveries stayed constrained by fuselage component shortages from Spirit AeroSystems despite strong widebody demand.

Engine recovery supports stronger single-aisle deliveries

Improving LEAP engine supply is now the main driver behind higher Airbus A320 A350 deliveries in the narrowbody segment. A320-family deliveries, especially the A321neo, saw the largest year-on-year and sequential gains in the third quarter. Earlier this year, Airbus had about 60 A320-family gliders at final assembly, fully built but waiting for engines. Now, as engine shipments normalise, those gliders are gradually turning into revenue-generating deliveries for both Airbus and its supply chain.

Meanwhile, steady A330 output and modest changes in A220 volumes highlight a mixed picture across Airbus’ portfolio. A220 deliveries slipped slightly to 21 units in the quarter. A330 deliveries were flat quarter-on-quarter and only one higher year-on-year, showing more stable but less dynamic growth than the A320 family. As a result, Airbus A320 A350 deliveries remain the primary lever to hit its ambitious 820-delivery target for 2025.

Widebody constraints, titanium outlook and backlog pressure

Persistent fuselage shortages continue to cap Airbus A320 A350 deliveries on the widebody side. Airbus handed over just 12 A350s in the third quarter, with only one unit in September. These issues are tied to structures supplied by Spirit AeroSystems for both the A350 and A220 programmes. However, Airbus expects its planned acquisition of Spirit assets to stabilise fuselage flows and support higher widebody build rates.

Even with these constraints, Airbus A320 A350 deliveries sit within a broader, robust commercial backdrop. The manufacturer must still deliver 313 aircraft in the fourth quarter to meet its 820-unit 2025 goal, implying a very heavy year-end push. Airbus booked 610 gross orders through September, with 514 net after cancellations, leaving a backlog of 8,665 aircraft. That backlog represents more than 10 years of work at current production rates. Airbus has also signalled that titanium demand will contract in 2026 because of inventory adjustments, before rebounding in 2027 as widebody output rises.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Airbus’ latest figures highlight how recovery is now constrained more by industrial logistics than by end-market demand. Narrowbody momentum is clearly back, but widebody execution and structural part integration will determine whether Airbus can unlock its full titanium and supply-chain pull from 2027 onward. For mills and forgings suppliers, the message is to prepare for a delayed but pronounced up-cycle rather than a straight-line recovery.