The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus will most likely only be able to deliver A321XLR aircraft later than contractually agreed with customers. Due to delays in the supply chain, the first example is not expected to be delivered until the third quarter of the current year.

Airbus recently said that this would happen in the second quarter of 2024. However, at the most recent annual press conference, the manufacturer had to admit that this goal cannot be met. In a letter to customers, reported by the Reuters agency, it is also mentioned that there could be delays lasting several months at the end of 2024 or beginning of 2025. However, the company did not want to comment on this information.

Various aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, suffer from the problem that components required for final assembly are not available in sufficient quantities. This is referred to as “problems in the supply chain”. Manufacturers are largely affected by this, but to varying degrees depending on the machine type. This problem has been going on for several years and is also a consequence of the fact that many companies cut jobs during the Corona pandemic and therefore there are now personnel bottlenecks. But there are numerous other reasons.

Regarding the Airbus A321XLR, Airbus stated that it was close to receiving EASA certification. There are still thousands of documents to be completed. It is currently assumed that the first unit can be delivered in the third quarter of the current year. When asked how many machines of this type could be handed over to customers this year, they only said “a handful”. Mass production is only expected to start in 2025. This is said to be – among other things – related to the problems in the supply chain.