Airbus Cuts Delivery Target by 30 Planes Over Fuselage Issue

UPDATE: Airbus has just announced a significant reduction in its annual delivery target, dropping by 30 planes due to a critical fuselage issue affecting the A320 line. The French aerospace giant now expects to deliver approximately 790 commercial aircraft this year, down from the original target of 820.

The urgent development comes on the heels of a recent software problem impacting 6,000 planes that disrupted flights over the Thanksgiving holiday. This latest revelation raises concerns in the aviation community, especially following the emergency landing of a JetBlue flight on October 31, which resulted in 15 passengers being hospitalized after the aircraft suddenly lost altitude en route to Newark, New Jersey.

Airbus officials have identified the issue related to metal panels located behind the cockpit on either side of the two forward doors. These panels have been found to be of the incorrect thickness, necessitating inspections on 628 planes—including 168 already in service, 245 on assembly lines, and 215 in earlier production stages.

Despite these challenges, an Airbus source conveyed to the BBC that there is currently no safety risk associated with the affected aircraft. “The source of the issue has been identified, contained, and all newly produced panels conform to all requirements,” the source stated. “This quality issue does not affect the flight safety of the aircraft in question. Only inspections will determine where an aircraft may have panels with quality issues and the appropriate action to be taken.”

The news has had a tangible impact on Airbus’s stock, with shares dropping over 6.5% in the past week alone.

As the situation develops, stakeholders and passengers alike are urged to stay informed about the latest updates from Airbus, especially concerning timelines for inspections and potential resolutions. The company’s commitment to addressing these issues is critical, as the aviation industry looks to maintain trust and safety standards amid ongoing challenges.