Airbus Cuts A320 Delivery Target by 30 Amid Fuselage Inspection

UPDATE: Airbus has just announced a significant reduction in its delivery target for the A320 aircraft due to a critical fuselage issue. The French aerospace giant now expects to deliver approximately 790 commercial planes this year, down from the original goal of 820.

This urgent update follows the discovery of a problem with metal panels located behind the cockpit on each side of the two forward doors. Inspections are set to be conducted on 628 planes, which includes 168 already in service, 245 on assembly lines, and 215 in earlier production stages.

The fuselage issue is particularly concerning given that it comes on the heels of a software fix affecting 6,000 planes that disrupted flights over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Recently, a JetBlue flight on October 31, 2023, faced a troubling incident where 15 passengers were hospitalized after the aircraft lost altitude and made an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida.

Despite the alarming circumstances, Airbus officials have reassured the public that there are no safety concerns related to the fuselage issue. “The source of the issue has been identified and contained,” an Airbus representative stated. “All newly produced panels conform to requirements. This quality issue does not affect flight safety.”

The company’s stock has taken a hit, plunging more than 6.5% in the past week as investors react to the news. The inspections are critical, as they will determine whether any aircraft may have panels that do not meet quality standards and what corrective actions will be necessary.

As Airbus works to resolve these issues, the aviation industry is closely watching the developments. The next steps include the comprehensive inspection of the affected planes and an assessment of their impact on future deliveries.

Stay tuned for more urgent updates as this story develops.