Airbus surpassed its target of 600 deliveries in 2021 – sources | Photo credits: EADS
PARIS, Jan. 3 (Reuters) – Airbus has surpassed its target of 600 aircraft deliveries in 2021, according to a count that still needs to be consolidated, industry sources were told Monday.
The deliveries of devices continued until December 31 inclusive, according to data from the specialist websites Hamburg Finkenwerder News and Flightradar24.
Airbus declined to comment immediately.
Last-minute deliveries particularly concerned long-haul A350 aircraft, the demand for which remains limited due to the restrictions imposed on intercontinental travel by the coronavirus pandemic.
About ten of these devices were delivered in December, although around half of them have not yet entered service, according to Flightradar24.
Airbus’ delivery rate traditionally increases at the end of the year, but the company has not escaped the difficulties of supply chains in recent months, which have particularly affected the production of medium-haul aircraft.
The European manufacturer had revised its delivery target upwards in July, from 566 to 600, after reporting better than expected half-year results. Bloomberg reported on December 22 that it was on the verge of meeting that goal.
(Tim Hepher report, French version Tangi Salaün, edited by Blandine Hénault)