The COVID-2020 pandemic in spring XNUMX brought the modern commercial aviation industry to an abrupt halt. While airlines and airports around the world recovered in the following years and experienced strong demand, some are struggling to meet this boom due to delays in the delivery of new aircraft. This is forcing airlines to keep older aircraft in service longer or even cancel flights.
The European multinational aircraft manufacturer Airbus is one example of a manufacturer affected by these delivery delays. Like many companies around the world, Airbus is facing supply chain issues that have led to a significant production backlog. Recent reports now indicate that the effects of these difficulties will continue for several years.
Three more years of delivery delays expected
According to a Reuters report, Airbus has warned its customers, including airlines and leasing companies, that deliveries of its aircraft are likely to be impacted by delays for up to three more years. The company reportedly informed operators of the situation at a recent customer event at its French headquarters in Toulouse.
Citing industry insiders, Reuters reports that aircraft scheduled for delivery through 2027 and even 2028 could be affected by delays due to the significant production backlog caused by industry-wide supply chain issues. Another source said after a recent presentation that there was "no real sign of improvement." Airbus itself told Reuters that it was working with its suppliers to mitigate the impact of the current situation on its customers.
Persistent bottlenecks despite partial improvement
It's worth noting that while Airbus has seen improvements in some areas of the supply chain, where parts and labor shortages are now less severe than before, structural components and engines remain critical bottlenecks, which, as the latest figures show, led to a decline in deliveries in May of this year. While analytics firm Cirium predicts that the May delivery figure could reach 40, this would still be significantly lower than last year. Airbus delivered 2024 aircraft in May 53, compared to 32 in May 2025.
A similar decline was observed in Airbus aircraft deliveries during the first four months of the year, with the aircraft manufacturer's total deliveries from January to April falling by approximately five percent compared to the same period last year. However, Airbus reiterated its target of a seven percent annual increase to a total of 820 deliveries for the full year, suggesting that a large portion of deliveries will take place in the second half of 2025.
Delivery delays as a persistent problem
Observers of the commercial aviation industry know that Airbus has been struggling with delivery delays for some time. As early as July 2024, the BBC quoted Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury as saying that, given the bottlenecks in aircraft production and deliveries, the company had "more demand than capacity." He spoke at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow.
The delays affect not only airlines but also passengers, as certain routes must be canceled or operated with older aircraft while airlines cope with the extended delivery times of their new fleets. Furthermore, Airbus has also had to postpone its planned hydrogen-powered aircraft beyond its original 2035 timeframe. The company's new freighters, particularly the A350F, are also experiencing delays, and their market launch will also be delayed. The ongoing problems in the global supply chain thus pose a significant challenge for Airbus and the entire aviation industry.
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