The European planemaker handed over 73 aircraft last monthβits best September everβbut still needs to deliver 313 more jets by year’s end to reach its ambitious 820-unit goal.
Airbus delivered 73 aircraft to 41 customers in September 2025, marking the manufacturer’s strongest month this year and its best September on record.
The September figure represents a 46% jump from the 50 planes delivered in the same month last year and a 12-aircraft increase from August. But the European planemaker faces a steep climb ahead.
With 507 aircraft handed over through the first nine months, Airbus must deliver 313 more jets in the final quarter to meet its annual target of 820 deliveries. That requires an average of more than 100 planes per monthβwell above the year-to-date pace.
The company’s delivery schedule stumbled early in 2025, averaging just 45 handovers monthly in the first quarter and 56 in the second. Supply chain disruptions, particularly engine shortages from Pratt & Whitney and CFM International, slowed production.
More than 60 fully assembled narrowbody jets sat waiting for engines as recently as last month, according to Reuters. Industry observers call these aircraft “gliders” because they lack powerplants.
Despite the backlog, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told CNBC in September that the company remains on track.
“All our attention will be on engine deliveries from both CFM and Pratt & Whitney, but they’re telling us that they will be able to deliver what we need,” Faury said. “So we remain positive for the back end of the year.”
The A320 family dominated September deliveries, with 18 A320neos and 40 A321neos handed over. One A319neo also left the factory, bound for Air China. The variant has attracted limited airline interest, garnering just 57 orders since launch compared to nearly 1,500 for its predecessor.
Nine A220 deliveries in September offered another bright spot. Airbus aims to produce 14 A220s monthly between its Canadian and Alabama assembly lines but has averaged only 6.5 per month this year. The company recently celebrated the 100th A220 built in Mobile, Alabama, which went to Breeze Airways.
China Southern leads all customers with 34 Airbus deliveries in 2025, including two A319neos, 11 A320neos and 21 A321neos. Delta Air Lines took 31 aircraft across four variants. IndiGo received 31 A321s, representing a fraction of its 1,200-plus outstanding orders.
September also brought milestone deliveries. Air CΓ΄te d’Ivoire received its first A330-900, allowing the airline to launch nonstop service between Abidjan and Paris with its first widebody jet. Air Niugini took delivery of its first Airbusβan A220-300 in a special 11-color livery celebrating Papua New Guinea’s 50th independence anniversary.
Croatia Airlines received an A220-100 configured with 127 seats, making it the highest-capacity variant of that model in service worldwide.
The A320 family surpassed Boeing’s 737 as the world’s most-delivered commercial jetliner during September.
Airbus delivered 123 aircraft in December 2024, demonstrating the production ramp-up possible in a strong closing month. The company now needs to match or exceed that performance for three consecutive months to meet its 2025 commitment.
Key Takeaways
Airbus delivered 73 aircraft in September 2025, its best September on record, but must hand over 313 more jets by year’s end to reach its 820-unit annual target.
Engine shortages from Pratt & Whitney and CFM International left more than 60 fully assembled aircraft waiting for powerplants, slowing deliveries through the first half of 2025.
The company averaged just 45 deliveries monthly in Q1 and 56 in Q2, requiring a fourth-quarter pace exceeding 100 aircraft per month to meet goals.
China Southern, Delta Air Lines and IndiGo each received more than 30 aircraft through September, while the A320 family surpassed Boeing’s 737 as the world’s most-delivered commercial jetliner.
CEO Guillaume Faury said Airbus remains “on track” for its target, expressing confidence that engine suppliers will deliver needed powerplants.
