Airbus Kicks Off 2025 With Strong Q4 Deliveries, Boosting Investor Confidence
Airbus has kicked off 2025 on a positive note, with investors expressing confidence in the company's future prospects. The aerospace giant delivered a strong performance in the fourth quarter of 2024, setting the stage for a promising year ahead.
Airbus delivered 13 more aircraft in the final quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This positive trend was supported by an increase in first flights in December, suggesting a reduction in inventory by year-end.
The company's shares also reflected this optimism, rising by about three percent to 159.26 euros on the first trading day of 2025. Despite a slow start to 2024 due to supply chain bottlenecks, particularly with engine manufacturers, Airbus managed to deliver around 760 commercial aircraft for the year, just 10 fewer than its adjusted target of 770.
Airbus's CEO, Guillaume Faury, had adjusted the company's production targets in summer 2024 in response to these challenges, reducing the target from 800 to 770 aircraft. The A320 model contributed significantly to the December 2024 deliveries, with over 110 aircraft handed over to customers. Some analysts even estimate that Airbus delivered even more in December, with figures ranging from 127 (Jefferies) to almost 120 (Bloomberg).
Airbus is set to publish official numbers for December 2024 and the full year 2024 on January 9, 2025, which will provide further clarity on the company's performance. Despite the challenges faced in 2024, Airbus has shown resilience and ended the year on a strong note, giving investors confidence in the company's prospects for 2025.
