Airbus hit by new A320 complications this week after the company confirmed a fresh industrial quality problem involving metal fuselage panels on several aircraft. The issue surfaced shortly after the planemaker dealt with a major software recall affecting thousands of jets worldwide.
According to Airbus, the quality flaw involves metal panels on a limited number of A320-family aircraft. The company said the problem has been traced to a supplier and is now contained. All newly produced panels meet required standards. However, the revelation still caused Airbus shares to fall sharply, dropping as much as 11% before closing nearly 6% lower.
Sources told Reuters that Airbus hit by new A320 delays may impact the delivery timeline for around 50 jets. Although none of the affected aircraft have entered service, the issue could slow the company’s push to meet its yearly delivery targets. Airbus delivered 72 aircraft in November, bringing its total to 657 for the year. It must deliver more than 160 jets in December to reach its target of “around 820.”
Industry insiders say the exact impact depends on where the affected panels are located on the aircraft and how intensive the repairs will be. Airbus noted that only a portion of the jets will need additional work, but did not specify the number.
This latest development comes just days after Airbus recalled over half of the global A320 fleet due to a software vulnerability triggered by solar flares. Most operations resumed quickly following a fast software update, though fewer than 100 jets still require additional hardware fixes.
Despite being one of the world’s best-selling aircraft models, the A320 family has faced ongoing challenges, including repair bottlenecks, logistical delays, and new cold-weather take-off limits. Analysts warn that the new quality flaw could put further pressure on production as global demand for the jet remains high.
Shares of major airline customers, including Lufthansa and easyJet, also dropped following the news. While some analysts say Airbus could still reach around 800 deliveries this year, others believe the new setback may push final numbers slightly lower.
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With Airbus hit by new A320 quality concerns at a critical time, the company now faces added pressure to stabilize its production line and meet strong market demand.
