(Reuters) – Airbus reported higher-than-expected third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) on Wednesday, driven by commercial aircraft deliveries and gains in the helicopter and defense sectors.

The European planemaker reaffirmed its key financial and delivery targets, but lowered its production target for its smallest model and now aims to assemble 12 Canadian-designed A220s per month in 2026, compared to a previous target of 14 per month for the same period.

On Monday, Reuters reported that Airbus had pushed back assembly of some A220s this year and next, and had set an internal target of 12 A220s per month by mid-June 2026, with a pace of 14 per month planned for the final weeks of the year.

Airbus had previously said it was targeting an assembly rate of 14 aircraft per month in order to reach the break-even point for the program it bought from Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier in 2018. However, Wednesday’s publication did not mention this objective.

The world’s largest aircraft manufacturer posted a 38% year-on-year increase in adjusted Ebit to €1.94 billion in the three months to the end of September, while its turnover rose 14% to €17.83 billion.

Analysts expected third-quarter revenue of 17.37 billion euros and adjusted Ebit of 1.76 billion euros, according to a consensus provided by the group.

The group said its outlook for 2025 now includes the impact of tariffs currently in place.

Airbus confirmed in July its objectives for 2025, excluding the impact of potential customs duties, i.e. deliveries of 820 commercial aircraft, after 766 in 2024 and an adjusted Ebit of around 7 billion euros.

DELIVERIES FOR 2025 REMAIN “DELAYED”

Airbus reaffirmed its target of around 820 commercial aircraft deliveries for 2025, after industrial concerns over engine supplies eased during the third quarter.

But the company faces another final sprint after delivering 507 planes in the first nine months. Managing director Guillaume Faury said deliveries would remain “delayed”.

Aircraft manufacturers are facing an engine shortage due to supply constraints and competition from maintenance shops, where there is a pressing demand for spare parts to reduce waiting times.

Airbus said it was maintaining its production forecast of 75 A320neo, its best-selling model per month at some point in 2027, while industry estimates currently stand at around 60.

In defense, Airbus said it was continuing to study the potential impact of order uncertainty on its A400M transport plane program, despite a deal with France and Spain to ease production.

Boeing earlier reported an adjusted loss of $7.47 per share in the third quarter, compared with average forecasts for a loss of $4.59, and took a loss of nearly $5 billion on its delayed 777X.

(Written by Mara Vîlcu, with Tim Hepher, edited by Augustin Turpin)

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