Airbus Aircraft Deliveries in April Drop Below Last Year's Levels Amid Delays
Overview of Airbus Aircraft Deliveries and Industry Impact
May 7 (Reuters) - Airbus said it delivered fewer aircraft in the year to April than in the same period a year earlier, underscoring the pressure on the European planemaker to accelerate handovers to airlines.
April Delivery Figures and Year-on-Year Comparison
The company said it delivered 67 aircraft in April, taking total deliveries for the year to 181, down 5.7% from 192 in the same period a year ago, as it works to raise the pace of customer handovers.
Challenges Affecting Delivery Targets
Airbus is struggling to meet its annual target of handing over about 870 commercial aircraft after Pratt & Whitney engine shortages and administrative delays in China slowed first-quarter deliveries. Last month, deliveries were down 16% on the year before.
Competition with Boeing
In the first quarter, Boeing delivered more jets than its European rival for the first time in any quarter since the beginning of 2023, as CEO Kelly Ortberg seeks to stabilize the U.S. planemaker after years of setbacks that helped Airbus gain ground.
Regional Deliveries and Market Response
The France-based group continued delivering jets to Gulf airlines in April despite the war in the Middle East, monthly data showed. Regional airlines Emirates, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia received three airliners last month.
Deliveries to China
Deliveries to Chinese customers also continued after administrative delays in China were resolved.
Aircraft Sales Performance
The company said it had sold 436 aircraft in the first quarter or a net total of 405 after adjusting for cancellations.
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro and Mateusz Rabiega; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
