Airbus has begun informing airlines about delivery delays for its popular A320neo family of jets in 2024. Several hundred single-aisle planes could face postponements of up to three months, according to industry sources on Tuesday.
In a statement to Reuters, Airbus confirmed unspecified delays for 2024 but emphasized that they do not indicate any worsening of supply chain issues since the company revised production plans earlier this year. Airbus maintains its production targets for 2024 and beyond.
Delays Impacting Larger A321neo Variant
The latest wave of notices represents the first concrete indication of supply constraints extending beyond this year for airlines. Sources state that the larger and in-demand A321neo variant, which currently accounts for over half of Airbus deliveries, is particularly affected by these delays.
Airbus is now providing more advance notice for airlines and leasing companies that have voiced concerns about the continuous flow of short-term delay notifications due to ongoing supply chain problems. An Airbus spokesperson said, “We try to be as transparent as possible to provide visibility for our customers.”
Debating Penalties and Supply Chain Responsibility
The 2024 delays highlight the continuing impact of supply chain problems arising from the COVID-19 outbreak, which will now stretch into its fifth year. This could revive debates over whether airlines should be compensated for these delays.
Currently, planemakers mainly maintain that supplier-related delays are “excusable” in contractual terms, meaning buyers are not owed penalties. However, as pressure mounts for planemakers to start paying penalties and pause inflation-adjustment clauses, some argue that these manufacturers should begin taking responsibility for their own supply chain issues.
Airbus and Boeing have both defended themselves against delivery delays, with a Boeing executive stating that ramping up production following COVID-19 lockdowns is “not as easy as an on/off switch.”
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