Airbus has been notifying airline customers about delays of several months to the delivery of some new aircraft in the face of ongoing supply chain issues according to reports. 

The French aircraft manufacturer has pushed back deliveries scheduled for late 2024 and 2025 despite managing to exceed its targets in 2023 with 735 aircraft delivered to customers. 

The news, first reported by Reuters, marks an industry wide issue with supply chain issues affecting the delivery of aircraft needed to capitalise on a growing market for the aviation industry as it recovers from losses during the Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns. 

Airbus’s main rival Boeing has also been affected by delays, with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently saying that his airline has been working on an alternative plan for the future that did not include its order of 150 737 MAX 10 aircraft after years of delays to the plane’s certification and delivery. 

The US manufacturer also recently reported that it would likely have to delay the delivery of 50 aircraft after the discovery of mis-drilled holes by supplier Spirit AeroSystems during inspections of new 737s. 

Additionally, while Airbus did not comment on the recent reports of delays, the company reiterated that it was operating in a "global complex environment", something cited when the company announced its 2023 deliveries.

Some airlines have also previously revealed delays to the delivery of their aircraft during the release of their 2023 earnings reports, though Airbus said it kept the content of its conversations with customers confidential.

Despite issues with delays and supply chains, Airbus celebrated more orders for A320s and A350s in 2023 than ever before, including signing commercial aviation’s largest single order with IndiGo, with 500 A320s, during the Paris Air Show.