Airbus may miss A320neo delivery target this year

TOULOUSE: Airbus SE will miss its delivery target for Pratt & Whitney-powered A320neo narrowbody jets this year, after problems with the engines caused an almost three-month halt in shipments, said people familiar with the matter.

The planemaker expected to deliver 30 to 40 fewer of the aircraft than previously anticipated, according to one of the people.

Airbus had planned to hand over about 210 of the Pratt-powered jets — one of two engine options for the A320neo — during the rest of this year. It could get closer to that target if Pratt, a unit of United Technologies Corp, can accelerate engine production beyond current levels.

The delays on Airbus’s hottest selling model — a workhorse for airlines worldwide — threaten to expose the planemaker and Pratt to late penalties from frustrated customers

The tardiness also will pressure Airbus’s effort to ramp up production generally, reducing room for manoeuvring in its schedule.

The company had planned to use this year to catch up from other delivery delays from last year, a goal that is now out of reach.

IndiGo, India’s biggest airline, is the largest customer for the A320neo model with 430 jets on order. The airline has previously said it had been forced to lease A320ceo planes on shortterm lease, adding to costs.