2023-11-08 19:29:44
The A321neo XLR, here on the tarmac at Miami Airport, United States, in September 2023. Stage of its test campaign. Joe Pries/Airbus
The European aeronautics giant confirms its annual delivery target, despite tensions within its subcontractor ecosystem.
Delivering 720 aircraft in 2023 remains a challenge. But this is the objective confirmed this Wednesday by Guillaume Faury, executive president of Airbus, during the presentation of the results for the first nine months of the year. At the end of September, the aeronautics giant had already delivered 488 devices to its customers. “We continue to make good progress in our ramp-up. October was a good month with 71 deliveries. We still have two months ahead of us to reach around 720 deliveries», he adds. Or produce 161 aircraft in November and December, therefore a rate of 80.5 aircraft per month. Which seems very ambitious but far from impossible: “in November and December 2022, we delivered 166 aircraft», recalls Guillaume Faury.
Management is therefore focused on production and ramp-ups which concern all programs: A320neo, A220, A330 and A350. Acknowledging the resumption of demand for long-haul, a market segment which emerged less quickly from the Covid crisis than that of medium-haul, the manufacturer has decided to increase monthly production of the A350 to 10 units per month. in 2026, compared to 9 per month initially planned, and 6 per month currently. As for the A320neo, Airbus is still targeting an increase in rate, from 40 aircraft per month during the pandemic, to 75 per month by 2026. The aircraft manufacturer is also maintaining its production targets for the A220 (14 per month in 2026).
Supply chain tensions
Objectives which are part of a “increasingly complex and uncertain global geopolitical environment (Editor’s note: war in Ukraine and the Middle East) and difficult operational situation, marked by the difficulties of certain subcontractors with whom we work closely», Develops Guillaume Faury, citing the American engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and the aerostructures supplier Spirit. Pratt & Whitney is facing premature wear problems affecting several hundred engines equipping around 30% of A320neo aircraft. Safran, associated with GE within CFM International, has already indicated that it would not be able to meet its delivery target for the Leap engine, which equips more than 65% of A320neo aircraft, due to difficulties identified upstream of its production chain. , among blacksmiths and foundries.
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Guillaume Faury expects continued tensions in the supply chain. However, demand is very strong, fueled in particular by the acceleration of fleet renewal by airlines who want the latest generation aircraft, more fuel efficient. The 1,200 net contracts signed since the start of 2023 bear witness to this. And have grown an XXL order book which is close to 8,000 devices to be produced. That is precisely 7,992 aircraft, including 6,754 models from the A320neo family. In this family, the A321 XLR is completing its tests and is very close to its certification. “We anticipate entry into service in the second quarter of 2024», Announces the boss of Airbus.
In this complicated context, Airbus achieved good performances over the first nine months of 2023. “Our profit reflects the increase in commercial aircraft deliveries, the good performance of helicopter activities as well as charges linked to the reassessment of certain satellite development programs», Explains the executive president. The manufacturer saw its turnover increase by 12% to 42.6 billion euros, including 31.5 billion in commercial aircraft. Its adjusted operating profit (Ebit) stood at 3.6 billion and its adjusted net profit at 2.7 billion. But its operating profit was impacted by charges (400 million since the start of 2023) linked to additional costs on satellite programs.
Restructuring of the defense and space division
Unsatisfied with the financial performance of the defense and space branch, Guillaume Faury launched an in-depth restructuring which “will take between two and three years, or maybe five years“, in order to lighten the organization, to “reposition the business“, to allow it to benefit from good practices implemented in the aircraft and helicopter divisions, to de-risk programs and contracts”difficult to manage». «The defense and space division has fantastic products but needs to achieve better financial performance“, he believes.
Sweeping away certain rumors of disengagement from defense and space, Guillaume Faury put the points on the “i». «This reorganization is not intended to prepare for an exit from these businesses. I am convinced that Airbus is stronger with defense and space“. Airbus therefore indicates that it has “undertaken to transform» this division. This aims for a “rigorous execution of programs» and to a “better balance between risks and opportunities» on the different programs, explained Guillaume Faury.
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