Airbus recently notified its customers that of the 628 A320 family aircraft under review due to possible discrepancies in the fuselage panels, 245 units have reached the final stage of assembly or preparation for delivery, 215 are in earlier stages of production and 168 are already part of the commercial fleets of various airlines, the company informed its partners, according to information released by the agency that served as the main source. The European manufacturer has decided to adjust its annual delivery target, announcing a reduction affecting this year’s production and distribution schedule after discovering irregularities linked to the thickness of some of the panels supplied.
According to reference media, the inspection process on the A320 line was derived from internal quality control, which revealed the use of unauthorized materials in the manufacture of the fuselage panels by an unspecified supplier. As a result of this result, Airbus carried out a comprehensive review of 628 aircraft, resulting in a downward revision of the 2024 delivery target. The new estimate indicates around 790 commercial aircraft will be delivered in 2025, a lower number compared to around 820 units previously planned for 2024.
The discovery of these technical deviations in the panels led to bottlenecks in the manufacturing of the A320 aircraft, which is the main product within the Airbus portfolio. The company informed its customers that after the analysis process, a “large percentage” of the panels that were examined met the necessary technical standards, and therefore they will be accepted without the need for additional modifications or replacements, as explained by the specialized media.
Airbus clarified that this review only affects the scheduling of deliveries and does not affect operational safety standards or pose structural risks to aircraft that have already been delivered and operated, the original media reported. The process of identification and continuous monitoring made it possible to determine the number of units subject to potential impact and to assess whether they comply with current regulations.
The manufacturer indicated that the reason for the discrepancy lies in the thickness of the panels, which does not always comply with the required technical specifications. Despite this, he stressed that most of the ingredients under review could continue to be used without compromising the safety of the product.
More recently, Airbus also had to face another technical challenge related to the A320 family programs, which included about 6,000 aircraft, according to the company itself. These situations put pressure on quality control procedures and supply chain management, increasing demands from customers and regulatory bodies on approval processes and maintenance of industrial standards, the media reported in their report.
During each inspection phase, Airbus prioritized transparency with customers and users, sending periodic updates containing details on the progress of the audits and acceptance criteria for the components under analysis. The information agency revealed that both the traceability of each component and the application of supervision protocols were monitored by the company’s engineering and quality control teams.
In communication with its customers, the company indicated that aircraft with plates that have already been validated and approved can remain active in commercial operations, while the general inspection process of the remaining units continues. Corrective actions and verification methods are carried out in coordination with the responsible technical specialists.
The media indicated that the observed trend at Airbus is in line with the growing demand within the global aviation sector, as regulators and airlines insist on responding quickly to any deviation from technical regulations. In this context, the manufacturer strengthens confidence in its ability to maintain deadlines and quality levels in deliveries, which are key factors for airlines and other industry players.
Regarding the economic impact, Airbus reported that it is maintaining its forecast for its 2025 financial results, anticipating adjusted operating profits (Ebit) of close to €7,000 million and free cash flow before customer financing of around €4,500 million. As reported by the source agency, the company believes that the impact of panel inspections remains within manageable parameters and that acceptance of the majority of components will facilitate the reduction of delays in production and distribution.
The next update with the official statistics of aircraft orders and deliveries, corresponding to November 2025, will be published on the first Friday after the announcement, as confirmed by the manufacturer itself and repeated by the reference media.
As inspections and monitoring of the A320 family continue, Airbus is preparing new balances to inform customers and strategic partners of process developments, as well as corrective actions, revised schedules and supply chain evolution. Transparency of information is among the basic axes of the company’s strategy in these months, in order to ensure adherence to the levels of safety and accreditation required for the sector, according to the information provided by both Airbus and the agency that led to the preparation of this report.