In an internal letter seen by Reuters, Faury said the start of 2026 is being shaped by “an unprecedented number of crises” and unsettling geopolitical developments, urging staff to respond with solidarity and self-reliance. He did not name specific events, but his memo comes amid growing friction between Washington and its allies over issues such as Greenland and NATO’s role, at a time when Airbus is also a major European defence supplier.
Faury highlighted how the intensifying U.S.-China confrontation has worsened challenges across Airbus’s industrial landscape. He noted that multiple trade pressures had already caused “significant collateral damage, logistically and financially.”
Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump introduced sweeping tariffs that triggered Chinese restrictions on rare earth exports. The U.S. later temporarily froze exports of engines and other components to China, impacting the C919 jet project. These disruptions also affected Airbus operations because U.S.-made parts are used in Airbus aircraft assembled in China.
Airbus has received a partial reprieve from the tariffs, but the broader trade instability continues to create supply chain challenges.
Despite these pressures, Faury congratulated Airbus’s 160,000 staff for achieving what he described as “good results” in 2025, without providing details. The company is scheduled to publish full results on February 19.
He also praised the progress of Airbus Defence and Space, which he said is on stronger footing after restructuring, and highlighted consistent performance at Airbus Helicopters.
Key Operational Challenges and Lessons
Faury said Airbus must learn from its largest-ever recall in November, which involved a software upgrade. The recall was followed by a delay in delivery targets due to defective fuselage panels, although Airbus maintained its financial targets, citing progress in a cost-cutting plan.
“We must be more rigorous in managing our systems and products in general,” he wrote.
Supply chains, he said, remain a major source of disruption despite improvements since the COVID-19 pandemic. He specifically flagged issues with engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney and CFM, which have caused significant delays in deliveries.
A Focus on Profitability and Future Strategy
Faury signaled that Airbus will focus on profitability through the rest of the decade as it prepares for the next generation of aircraft. He emphasized the need to build financial strength ahead of a major development phase in the 2030s, when Airbus plans to develop a successor to the A320 family, expected to enter service in the latter part of the decade.
“Achieving profitable growth in the second half of the 2020s is essential,” he said. “We need to approach this crucial period in truly ‘Olympic’ shape.”
Faury concluded by stressing that Airbus’s future will depend on its ability to execute this strategy amid mounting geopolitical and industrial pressures.