Airbus targets a strong finish to the year despite lower revenue
ANDRIEVSKII.CH | October 29, 2026
The world’s largest aircraft manufacturer is maintaining its target of delivering around 870 aircraft in 2026 despite supply shortages and quality issues.
Airbus’s adjusted operating profit fell 9% in the third quarter to €1.77bn, while revenue declined 2% to €17.5bn. The results reflected slower commercial aircraft deliveries and the cost of integrating work transferred from supplier Spirit AeroSystems.
Despite these challenges, the European group reaffirmed its annual financial guidance and delivery target. Its main competitor, Boeing, had lowered its own annual target a day earlier.
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said the company remained focused on meeting customer commitments and ensuring quality amid a difficult geopolitical and operating environment. The group’s shares have fallen more than 5% since the start of the year as production constraints persist.
Airbus delivered 547 aircraft in the first nine months, including 196 in the third quarter. To reach its annual target, it must hand over another 323 aircraft between October and December. That puts around 37% of planned annual deliveries into the final three months, requiring a substantial acceleration.
Manufacturing defects and component shortages have constrained Airbus for two years. Demand remains strong, with production slots for its popular A320 narrow-body family booked for the next eight years. However, that substantial backlog has yet to resolve the difficulties affecting output.
The wide-body A330 programme has faced additional setbacks. Deliveries slowed over the summer after Airbus identified quality lapses in June affecting some aircraft under production.
The company identifies delayed A320 engines from US manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and quality problems with passenger seats as its two main remaining obstacles. According to Faury, engine availability continues to determine the pace of production. Airbus teams are mobilised to accelerate deliveries before the end of the year and meet the target.
Andrievskii Verdict
Airbus has a solid foundation for growth: resilient demand and an order backlog stretching years ahead. Even high fuel prices have yet to prompt airlines to cancel orders or postpone deliveries. The company’s main task is to increase output, and its decision to maintain the annual target signals management’s confidence in its ability to deliver. If Airbus overcomes engine delays and quality issues, strong demand should support a recovery in financial performance.
Disclaimer: This publication is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalised investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell securities. Investments in financial instruments involve risks, including the potential loss of capital.
Aleksei Andrievskii | Advisory Board Member, Bendura Bank AG | Liechtenstein