Airbus Delays A220 Production Ramp-Up Amid Supply Chain Issues

Airbus has postponed the assembly of some A220 jets to 2025 and 2026, moving its target of producing 14 aircraft per month to December 2026, Reuters reported.

The manufacturer’s decision follows ongoing supply chain difficulties that have delayed both production and delivery of the A220. The program is currently unprofitable and depends on increased output to lower unit costs.

Internal targets now call for a production rate of 12 A220s per month by mid-2026, up from the current 7 to 8 units. Airbus delivered 62 A220s in the first nine months of the year, but it does not publicly disclose model-specific delivery targets.

Airbus assumed control of the A220 program from Bombardier in 2018. Recently, the Quebec government reduced its stake in the program by C$400 million, decreasing its share from 25%.

Christine Frechette, Quebec’s Economy Minister, attributed continued losses in the program to commercial tensions and fragile supply chains. Production delays include the removal of some aircraft from the 2025 schedule and nearly 10 from next year’s plan.

Workers at A220 assembly lines in Montreal and Mobile are contending with part shortages and assembly line errors. Benoit Schultz, former head of Airbus Canada, has urged teams to achieve an internal target of 100 A220 deliveries in 2025.

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