European planemaker discovers fuselage defect on dozens of A320 jets, sending shares down 5.3% as company faces uphill battle to deliver 163 aircraft by year-end.
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has identified a production quality issue affecting fuselage panels on several dozen jets from its A320 family, industry sources said, raising fresh concerns about manufacturing standards at the world’s largest commercial planemaker.
The defect has already impacted deliveries of the popular narrowbody aircraft, according to sources familiar with the matter, though the company has reportedly identified and contained the problem. The issue is not expected to affect aircraft already in service.
News of the fuselage panel flaw sent Airbus shares down 5.3%, according to CNBC, and comes as the manufacturer faces mounting pressure to meet its 2025 delivery target with just weeks remaining in the year.
Airbus was aiming to hand over around 820 commercial aircraft to customers in 2025. However, after delivering 72 jets in November, the company remains 163 aircraft short of that goal. Meeting the target would require Airbus to exceed its December 2019 record of 138 deliveries.
The fuselage panel problem represents the second major quality challenge for Airbus in recent weeks. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued an airworthiness directive late last month requiring software updates on more than 6,000 in-service A320 family aircraft due to concerns about solar radiation potentially affecting flight control systems.
That software issue, which prompted a weekend scramble by airlines to implement fixes, has been largely resolved. Airbus confirmed earlier this week that fewer than 100 aircraft remained grounded due to the software vulnerability.
The timing of the fuselage defect discovery complicates an already difficult delivery schedule for Airbus. While Pratt & Whitney has produced sufficient engines to support the company’s annual target, the production flaw represents another potential bottleneck in the supply chain.
Reuters first reported the fuselage panel quality issue. Airbus did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.
The exact number of affected aircraft and the extent of potential delivery delays remain unclear. However, the production flaw is believed to be identifiable during manufacturing, allowing the company to address the issue before aircraft enter service.
Airbus’ delivery challenges reflect broader pressures facing commercial aircraft manufacturers as global air travel demand continues to recover from pandemic-era disruptions. Airlines worldwide are seeking new aircraft to expand operations and replace aging fleets.
The manufacturer’s ability to overcome quality setbacks while maintaining production rates will prove critical not only for meeting financial targets but also for sustaining customer confidence in an industry where reliability and safety standards are paramount.
Key Takeaways
- Airbus has discovered a fuselage panel production defect affecting several dozen A320 family jets, impacting deliveries.
- The company’s shares fell 5.3% on news of the quality issue.
- Airbus needs to deliver 163 aircraft by year-end to meet its 2025 target of 820 planes, requiring a pace that would exceed its December record.
- The fuselage problem follows a separate software issue affecting 6,000+ aircraft that has been largely resolved.
- The production flaw is not expected to affect jets already in service.
