Airbus A350 Freighter Entry Postponed to 2026 and Airbus Q1 Results

Airbus has announced that the entry into service date for the A350 freighter has been postponed to 2026.

The company recently released its first-quarter results and stated that the freighter's industrial planning is being slightly modified as it progresses toward its initial milestones.

Airbus A350 Freighter's Entry Postponed

During the results briefing, CEO Guillaume Faury announced that the A350 freighter's entry into service date has been postponed from the previous end-2025 time frame by a "few months".

He emphasized that it does not represent a "re-baselining" of the schedule but rather a "slight adjustment" due to overall program execution. Airbus has already manufactured the first components for the freighter at its Airbus Atlantic plant in Nantes.

"The delay in the entry into service date of the A350 freighter is not being attributed to any particular supplier," said Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Airbus.

The A350F has already received orders from several companies, including Air France, CMA-CGM, Etihad Airways, Silk Way West Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Air Lease Corporation.

Airbus Atlantic, based in France, recently manufactured the initial parts for the A350F. In addition, an anonymous customer placed an order for four Airbus A350 freighters in March.

Airbus Q1 Results

Airbus SE (AIR) has announced its consolidated financial results for the first quarter (Q1) ending March 31, 2023.

The company's CEO, Guillaume Faury, emphasized that the quarter showed strong demand for its products, especially for commercial aircraft, as evidenced by the delivery of 127 commercial aircraft.

Additionally, the company reported good performance in helicopters. However, Airbus continues to face challenges in the operating environment, including supply chain tensions.

The company's 2023 guidance remains unchanged, with commercial aircraft deliveries expected to be backloaded. Airbus remains focused on delivering the commercial aircraft ramp-up and longer-term transformation.
 

Airbus is ramping up production on the A220 and A320 Family programs, with plans to reach a monthly production rate of 14 and 65 aircraft by mid-decade and the end of 2024.

In addition, Airbus has announced plans to add a second Final Assembly Line in Tianjin, which will increase global industrial capacity to 10 Final Assembly Lines for the A320 Family.
 

This will support Airbus' goal to produce 75 aircraft per month by 2026. Meanwhile, the flight test program for the A321XLR is making progress, and the aircraft is expected to enter service in Q2 2024.