Airbus must deliver 249 aircraft in two months to hit record 2026 target

Airbus must deliver another 249 commercial aircraft in November and December to meet its 2026 target of around 870, after handing over 74 jets in October.

The planemaker delivered 621 aircraft during the first ten months of the year. That is up 6.2% from the same period in 2025. October’s deliveries went to 45 customers.

October marked the third consecutive month in which Airbus delivered fewer aircraft than a year earlier. The manufacturer handed over 74 jets, down from 78 in October 2025, after smaller year-on-year shortfalls in August and September. Deliveries across the three months totalled 203 aircraft, nine fewer than in the same period last year.

To reach its target, Airbus now needs to average 124.5 deliveries in each of the final two months. That is more than double its January–October monthly average of 62.1 aircraft. The target would also exceed its previous annual record of 863 deliveries, set in 2019.

Airbus delivery target requires a sharp year-end increase

The latest figures narrow the gap from September, when Airbus needed 323 deliveries in the final quarter after delivering 547 aircraft by the end of September.

Airbus handed over 286 aircraft in the final quarter of 2025, including 136 in December. 

Repeating last year’s November–December performance would not be enough to meet the higher 2026 target. However, the manufacturer has historically concentrated a substantial share of deliveries towards year-end.

In its 28 October nine-month results, Airbus reaffirmed its guidance of around 870 commercial aircraft deliveries for 2026. Chief executive Guillaume Faury said the company was focused on meeting its objectives while maintaining quality. The manufacturer also attributed its negative free cash flow before customer financing partly to inventory built up for later deliveries.

A321neo accounts for more than half of October deliveries

By aircraft family, Airbus’ deliveries break down like this:

The A321neo was Airbus’s most-delivered model in October, with 39 aircraft handed over, accounting for more than half of the month’s deliveries. Airbus also delivered 15 A320neos, nine A220-300s and one A319neo, alongside four A330-900s and six A350s.

From January to October, Airbus delivered 77 A220s and 483 A320-family aircraft, along with 17 A330s and 44 A350s. Single-aisle aircraft accounted for 560 of the 621 deliveries, or around 90%.

Airbus continues to face delays involving engines and other suppliers, alongside recent quality issues affecting some A321neo and A330 aircraft. The company said at its nine-month results that its longer-term production plans were unchanged, including a target of 70–75 A320-family aircraft a month by the end of 2027.

Orders rise even as delivery deadline approaches

Airbus recorded 202 gross aircraft orders in October, taking its total for the year to 1,376. After 71 cancellations, net orders stood at 1,305.

The October order tally included major commitments from aircraft lessors Avolon and Aviation Capital Group, each committing to 75 new narrowbody planes. Avolon ordered 40 A320neo and 35 A321neo aircraft, while Aviation Capital ordered 23 A320neos and 52 A321neos. Atlantic Airways ordered two A320neo aircraft. The planemaker also recorded a widebody order for 35 A330 aircraft from CIT Leasing.

Continued strong demand is pitted against immediate pressure to complete and hand over already ordered aircraft. 

The 249 aircraft required in November and December do not all need to be newly assembled during those months; aircraft already in production or awaiting completion and handover can contribute to the total. Still, as the year wraps up, the next monthly figures will show whether Airbus is likely to meet its 2026 target.