Airbus Facing A350 Struggles

Supply chain struggles across the industry continue as Airbus faces complications with its A350 program.

The planemaker had planned to continue increasing output rates to meet demand and increase production to improve finances and overall performance.

However, ongoing supply chain problems affecting the business are now seen as too significant, and rates will likely remain below six per month throughout 2025.

Production is pivotal to working through the existing backlog. Airbus aims to achieve a production rate of 12 units per month by 2028; while it remains a target, the persistent supply chain woes make this increasingly more challenging to reach.

It has been tricky for Airbus, from woes in delivering aircraft spurred on by elements such as seats, which stem from complications with suppliers, to fuselage pieces arriving late for production from Spirit AeroSystems.

Output increases remain on the cards; however, when they are achieved remains a grey area. The last five years have thrown curve balls after curve balls, affecting long-term plans and more at the manufacturer.

Airbus Delays The A350F

Talk of production output woes on the A350 program comes following Reuters reports that the upcoming freighter variant would also see delays of up to a year.

Initial forecasting saw the new dedicated freighter entering service in the coming years, with a first flight in 2025 and an entry into service in early 2026.

However, this will not likely be met as the manufacturer copes with supply chain constraints rampaging through the industry.

These constraints are affecting the A350 program from a passenger output sense to the launch of its new freighter endeavour.

Supply chain constraints have hurt Airbus’ attempts to meet production requirements and led to delivery delays across its commercial airplane division, which have had a knock-on effect on airline customers awaiting their planes.

Therefore, a prospective A350F delay shouldn’t be a shock, considering the operating environment remains far from optimal and has been this way for many years.

While Airbus has yet to announce the delays to the A350F program, a year could be added to the launch timeframe, bringing an EIS closer to 2027.

This delay would still put it ahead of schedule on the 777-8F, Boeing’s new freighter it’s expected to rival.