European planemaker Airbus said on Friday its deliveries fell in August after a sharp rise the previous month, a decline that analysts said leaves the company struggling to deliver strong year-on-year growth to meet an annual target.
The aircraft maker said it has delivered 47 aircraft, down from 77 in July, to 447 so far this year.
The company is targeting 770 deliveries for the full year after adjusting the target downward over the summer due to delays in receiving engines, cabin equipment and other parts. Industry sources said the supply chain remains fragile,
“August is typically a weaker month for Airbus in terms of deliveries,” Jefferies analyst Chloe Lemarie said in a note, adding that Airbus needs to increase deliveries by 7% per month compared to last year’s pace to reach its target.
Airbus has booked 46 new orders, including 30 A330neos previously announced for Cathay Pacific, and a rare order from one “private customer” for three A350-900s and three A320neos worth more than $1 billion at catalog prices that tend to be used for one-off purchases without commercial airline discounts.
Airbus declined to comment but typically uses the term “private customer” to describe aircraft bought for use by VIPs in luxury configurations or by governments. Analysts say demand for such aircraft remains strong in the Middle East.
Many commercial airlines also initially withhold their identity when ordering jets in order to protect their marketing strategies from competitors, but such deals are classified as “undisclosed” in Airbus’ monthly orders and deliveries data.
Airbus said it has won 432 total orders so far this year, or a net total of 413 orders after cancellations.