Aircraft
Airbus delivered 72 jets in September and now needs about 108 a month to hit its 2026 goal
Airbus has delivered 547 jets so far this year against a target of about 870. That leaves 323 to hand over in the last three months.
By Patrick Karsh, Founder, Lounge Frog ·
Page updated October 2026.
Airbus picked up its pace in September, but it still has a lot of work to do before the year ends. The planemaker delivered 72 aircraft to 37 customers last month, according to its orders and deliveries page. That brings the total for 2026 so far to 547 jets, delivered to 84 customers.
The numbers
Here is the September picture, based on Airbus data and reports from Aviation24.be and AeroTime:
- 72 deliveries: 67 single-aisle jets and 5 widebodies.
- The widebodies were two A330neos and three A350s.
- 17 gross orders, with 3 cancellations, for 14 net orders.
- The new orders were 15 A320neos for Air Cairo and 2 A321neos for FlyOne Armenia.
For comparison, AeroTime says Airbus delivered 57 jets in August and 73 in September 2025.
The gap to the target
Airbus is aiming for about 870 deliveries in 2026. After September, it still needs 323 more. That works out to about 108 a month in October, November and December. AeroTime notes that Airbus "needs to target over 100 aircraft deliveries a month" to get there.
Airbus often has a big rush at the end of the year, so a strong fourth quarter is normal. But 108 a month would be a very high pace. Watch the October numbers in early November for a sign of whether it is on track.
What is slowing things down
One issue is the A330neo. AeroTime reports that a tool was found inside the structure of an A330neo during an inspection before delivery. Airbus then checked the horizontal tailplane on other A330neos. It has asked airlines to run extra inspections during planned maintenance on jets built from 2021 to July 2026. A330neo deliveries were zero in June and July, one in August and two in September.
A milestone in China
September also brought a first. Airbus delivered the first A320neo built on its second final assembly line in Tianjin, China. It went to China Eastern on September 22. More lines mean Airbus can build more single-aisle jets each month over time.
Why travelers should care
Late deliveries ripple out to passengers. When a new jet arrives late, airlines keep older planes flying longer. They may also delay new routes or new cabins. Many of the new business class seats and lie-flat narrowbody cabins you read about depend on these deliveries.
AeroTime says September customers included Delta, British Airways and Emirates. Each of them has new cabins tied to Airbus jets. If an airline promises a new seat on a route, check the aircraft type close to departure. A swap to an older plane is common when deliveries run behind.
My take
Airbus will likely get close to its goal, because the fourth quarter is always its busiest. But 108 a month is a lot. If you have booked a trip on a brand-new cabin early next year, I would keep an eye on the schedule.
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