PARIS (Reuters) – Airbus narrowly missed its 2024 delivery target, provisionally delivering more than 765 planes to airlines and lessors, industry sources said, citing preliminary data.

Airbus theoretically delivered more than 122 planes in December, bringing the total for the year to just over 765, the sources added.

Airbus declined to comment ahead of the official announcement on January 9.

The European manufacturer had forecast “around 770” deliveries in 2024, after lowering its target in July due to supply problems and avoiding a second profit warning after reaching an agreement on additional deliveries of engines in November with CFM, a joint venture owned by GE Aerospace and Safran.

But some deliveries had to be postponed amid complex negotiations between airline, plane maker and seat supplier, leaving the target of 770 deliveries out of reach, the sources said.

The data, which is subject to routine auditing, may be changed at the last minute, with some discretion given as to whether deliveries can be booked before the change of ownership is completed.

A source, however, said that such “paper” deliveries had fallen in 2024.

Airbus had already laid the groundwork for missing its delivery target, telling analysts that a shortfall of less than 20 planes would not be considered significant, and therefore not serious enough to warrant a new profit warning.

Airbus generates most of its operating profits and cash flow from commercial aircraft deliveries.

Bloomberg News reported Thursday that Airbus delivered about 760 planes in 2024.

Airbus will present its 2025 forecast and full results on February 20.

(Reporting Tim Hepher; Etienne Breban; edited by Blandine Hénault)

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