Airbus is facing a demanding end to the year. The European aircraft manufacturer has set itself a target of delivering 870 aircraft in 2026. However, after the first ten months, the company is still well below this figure. As a result, Airbus will need to step up its delivery pace significantly in November and December.
621 Aircraft Delivered by the End of October
In October, Airbus handed over a total of 74 new aircraft to its customers. This brings the manufacturer’s deliveries since the beginning of the year to 621 aircraft. To achieve its annual target of 870 aircraft, Airbus still needs to deliver another 249.
The remaining two months will therefore be crucial for the European manufacturer. Based on the figures, Airbus would need to deliver an average of around 125 aircraft per month in November and December. This would be significantly above the average monthly delivery rate recorded so far this year.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury recently reaffirmed the company’s target of 870 deliveries for 2026. If the manufacturer reaches this figure, it would also set a new delivery record. The previous record dates back to 2019, when Airbus handed over a total of 863 commercial aircraft to its customers.
Strong Order Intake in October
While deliveries are still below the level required to meet the annual target, Airbus continues to perform well in terms of new orders. The manufacturer recorded 202 new orders in October alone. Since the beginning of the year, its total order intake has reached 1,376 aircraft.
Orders placed by leasing companies accounted for part of October’s business. In addition, Airbus secured an order from flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines. The airline ordered four additional Airbus A350-900s for its long-haul fleet.
These figures highlight the continued strong demand for aircraft produced by the European manufacturer. In particular, the positive order intake provides Airbus with a substantial order backlog and underlines its importance in the global commercial aviation market.
Final Push Towards Year-End
Despite the strong order intake, achieving its delivery target remains Airbus’s main challenge over the coming weeks. The manufacturer will need to further increase production and streamline its delivery processes towards the end of the year to hand over the remaining 249 aircraft to customers on time.
