Why Shares in Airbus Took Off Today

Core Insights - Shares in Airbus rose by up to 4% following Vietjet's announcement to double its orders of A330neo aircraft from 20 to 40 during French President Macron's visit to Vietnam [1] - The order represents an expansion in the wide-body market rather than a new customer acquisition, as Vietjet already operates an all-Airbus fleet [2] - The Vietjet order is significant for Airbus's wide-body programs, particularly the A330neo, which had only 82 orders in 2024 and 10 orders in 2025 prior to this announcement [3] Airbus and Vietjet - Vietjet currently operates 116 narrow-body A320 family aircraft and seven wide-body A330s, indicating a strong reliance on Airbus [2] - The order from Vietjet is expected to bolster Airbus's position in the wide-body market, where it has historically lagged behind Boeing [3] Market Context - Airbus and Boeing are facing supply chain challenges that could limit production capacity, raising concerns about potential delivery delays [5] - The Vietjet order is seen as a confidence booster for Airbus's order trajectory and may encourage other airlines to place orders amid market uncertainties [5]