Paris: European plane maker Airbus is scrambling to assess how a recently discovered fuselage-panel defect in some of its A320 jets may derail its ambitious year-end delivery plans. The disclosure, made public earlier this week, comes at a precarious moment just days after the company also dealt with a major software-related recall affecting thousands of its aircraft worldwide.
In a statement to Reuters, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged that the quality issue has already contributed to a “weak” November, during which only 72 aircraft were delivered well below expectations. He said the firm is now reviewing each affected aircraft individually to determine whether they can still be delivered or must undergo repairs, a process that could stretch into December.
According to internal sources and industry reports, the problem stems from metal fuselage panels supplied to Airbus by a subcontractor which reportedly failed to meet strict manufacturing tolerances. Some of these panels were found to be improperly milled or stretched, resulting in deviations in thickness that could pose structural risks.
Airbus has told customers that a total of 628 jets across production lines and final-assembly stages may contain these flawed panels. Of these, a portion are already classified as “finished” but pending delivery; others are still in various phases of production or undergoing final assembly. The company says all newly produced panels meet specifications, implying that the supplier issue has been recently addressed.
Airbus has set a lofty target of delivering around 820 aircraft by the end of 2025. After November’s underperformance and the fresh fuselage problem, the burden now intensifies: December must see an unusually high number of handovers if the annual goal is to be met. Industry analysts are already warning that the defect could cut the final tally by as many as 30–50 aircraft, especially since inspections and possible panel replacements will slow down delivery schedules.
Investor confidence also reacted sharply: Airbus shares reportedly dropped as much as 10% on the news, reflecting concerns about both the immediate financial impact and longer-term reputational damage.
The quality issue follows hot on the heels of a massive recall by Airbus: just days ago, the firm ordered software modifications for about 6,000 A320-family jets after regulators flagged a vulnerability in certain flight-control computers exposed to intense solar radiation. That recall prompted temporary grounding of jets worldwide and caused substantial disruption. The fuselage panel problem, while affecting fewer aircraft, compounds pressure on production lines, supply chains, and quality-assurance systems already under strain.
The dual setbacks a software recall followed by a manufacturing flaw threaten to dent confidence in Airbus’s ability to maintain standards under its ambitious production ramp-up. Airlines planning fleet expansions or relying on timely deliveries may now face delays or cancellations.
Airbus has begun a sweeping inspection campaign, prioritizing aircraft already completed or nearing delivery. Only those jets that pass rigorous checks will be cleared for handover. For others, panels may need replacement a time-consuming process that will affect both the 2025 delivery target and potentially early-2026 schedules.
As the company grapples with these challenges, it faces a testing period in the “hours and days to come,” as CEO Faury put it a critical window that may define the fate of its global delivery program and set the tone for recovery in confidence and operational stability.