Reuters reports that Airbus has identified a quality issue affecting fuselage panels on several dozen A320-family aircraft, according to industry sources, raising concerns about delivery delays as the planemaker approaches the end of its annual production targets.
The production flaw, whose exact cause has not yet been determined, appears to impact deliveries rather than aircraft already in service, sources said. Some deliveries have reportedly been delayed, though the full scale and duration of the impact remain unclear. Airbus declined to comment.
The timing of the discovery comes as Airbus ramps up efforts to meet ambitious year-end delivery targets. The company delivered 72 jets in November, slightly below analyst expectations, bringing the total deliveries for 2025 so far to 657. To meet its goal of approximately 820 aircraft, Airbus would need a record-breaking December, surpassing the 138 jets delivered in December 2019.
Analysts are divided over whether Airbus can achieve its year-end target. Jefferies analyst Chloe Lemarie said that while November’s performance was weaker than anticipated, rising underlying production keeps the target within reach. Independent aviation analyst Rob Morris noted that Airbus could deliver around 800 aircraft, which may be sufficient depending on how the company defines its annual forecast, though some risk remains that the final tally could fall slightly short.
The fuselage panel issue follows a recent weekend recall of jets over a software bug, adding to the challenges Airbus faces as it pushes to meet delivery commitments and secure associated revenue and cash flow from customers.
