Airbus appears to have accelerated aircraft deliveries in September, with the European planemaker handing over around 72 commercial aircraft during the month, according to industry sources familiar with the provisional figures.
The estimated total would put September deliveries close to the 73 aircraft Airbus delivered in the same month a year earlier, suggesting the company maintained a relatively strong pace despite continuing disruptions in its industrial supply chain.
Airbus declined to comment on the provisional figure ahead of the release of its monthly industrial bulletin, which is scheduled for October 8.
The reported deliveries would also be above the number of aircraft currently visible through industry tracking. Analysts had estimated that Airbus delivered somewhere in the mid-to-high 60s during September, with Jefferies putting the figure at 68 aircraft.
The stronger pace comes as Airbus continues to contend with supply-chain challenges that have raised questions over whether production and deliveries could be affected by delays across its manufacturing system.
Among the latest concerns is an industrial issue involving parts for the A321neo, one of Airbus’ most important aircraft programmes. The company is also dealing with longer-running shortages of engines and other components, which have complicated efforts to maintain production and deliver completed aircraft to customers on schedule.
The September figure, if confirmed, could therefore provide some reassurance that the disruptions have not prevented Airbus from sustaining the delivery momentum needed to meet its annual objective.
Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner said this week that he remained confident about the company’s ability to achieve its full-year delivery goal.
He said he was "very confident" of meeting the target of around 870 aircraft for the year.
Airbus has informally defined that objective as a range of roughly 850 to 890 aircraft, giving the company some flexibility depending on how supply-chain conditions develop during the final months of the year.
The delivery figures are closely watched by investors and airlines because aircraft handovers are a critical measure of Airbus' ability to convert its substantial order backlog into revenue. Delays in engines, aerostructures and other components can leave completed aircraft awaiting final parts, testing or customer acceptance, potentially pushing deliveries from one month or quarter into the next.
The September performance will become clearer when Airbus publishes its official industrial figures on October 8. Until then, the approximately 72-aircraft total remains provisional and could change before the company confirms the final number.