Core Viewpoint - Airbus has revised its delivery guidance due to quality issues affecting its A320 aircraft, which has led to a significant drop in stock prices and concerns over potential widespread quality problems [1][3]. Group 1: Delivery Guidance and Quality Issues - Airbus has cut its delivery target for 2025 to 790 commercial aircraft, which is 30 fewer than previously expected, due to recent supplier quality issues with fuselage panels impacting the A320 Family delivery flow [3]. - A flaw affecting dozens of A320-family aircraft was reported, prompting Airbus to identify a quality issue with a "limited number" of metal panels, which has been contained [2][3]. - An immediate software fix was ordered for around 6,000 A320-series aircraft, resulting in a grounding of a significant portion of its narrow-body fleet and stranding travelers globally [2]. Group 2: Stock Market Reaction - Following the news of the panel issue, Airbus's stock fell nearly 7% over Monday and Tuesday, reflecting investor concerns about potential widespread quality issues similar to those faced by Boeing [3]. - Despite the delivery guidance revision, Airbus maintained its financial outlook, projecting adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of 7 billion euros and free cash flow before customer financing of approximately 4.5 billion euros [4]. - After the renewed guidance was issued early Wednesday morning, shares of Airbus rose by 4.3% as of 3:45 p.m. Paris time [4].
Airbus expects to deliver fewer aircrafts this year after a difficult few days. Here's how we got here.