Airbus’ new Chief Commercial Officer, Lars Wagner, acknowledged significant challenges associated with the company’s accelerating aircraft production during the Airline Economics Conference in January 2026, according to a report by Reuters. Despite these issues, Wagner emphasized that Airbus remains committed to slowly increasing output, particularly for its widebody programs.

Indeed, the European manufacturer has been gradually ramping up production over the years. In 2025, Airbus delivered 793 aircraft, averaging 67 deliveries per month. The number of aircraft delivered in 2025 exceeds the total in the early years after COVID-19 but remains below the 2019 level of 863 units.

“Ecosystem Under Pressure”

Wagner, who assumed leadership of Airbus’ commercial aircraft division on January 1, 2026, stated that the “whole ecosystem is under pressure,” referring to the challenges associated with ramping up aircraft production. According to him, the first issue that must be addressed is engine durability.

Airbus has faced ongoing problems with Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF) engines, which power the manufacturer’s narrowbody workhorse, the A320neo family, as well as A220s. A major manufacturing defect was discovered in the powdered metal used for the high-pressure turbine discs, leading to durability issues. As a result, numerous A320 and A220 operators, such as Wizz Air or IndiGo, have experienced operational disruptions, which are expected to continue through 2026. Addressing these challenges, Wagner said during the conference:

“The way I look at it right now is, first, there are a lot of issues that we need to tackle in order to manage the ramp-up. I think we need to solve the durability question first.”

Airbus Raises Possibility Of An A220-500 Launch

Discussions about producing a larger Airbus A220 have been ongoing. Airline CEOs that rely heavily on the A220, such as airBaltic, have expressed interest in a stretched variant, commonly referred to as the A220-500. Other carriers, such as Breeze Airways, could also view a larger A220 as a potential replacement for older A320 or 737 narrowbody aircraft.

While Airbus has not committed to launching the model, Wagner indicated during the conference that he would like to see a larger A220 developed. At present, Airbus offers two variants of the aircraft: the A220-100 and the larger A220-300. The A220-100 is designed to accommodate up to 135 passengers, while the stretched A220-300 can seat a maximum of 160 passengers in a single-class configuration. In a two-class layout, that capacity typically decreases to 150 passengers.

In terms of range, the -100 variant can fly as far as 3,600 nautical miles (6,700 km), while the -300’s maximum range is 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km). The A220-500 would likely offer increased range and capacity. Although not officially confirmed, industry speculation suggests the -500 variant could accommodate up to 180 passengers.

Flight Plan reported in April 2025 that Airbus paused development of the A220-500 due to ongoing profitability concerns with the program. CEO Guillaume Faury has noted that launching the -500 before the program reaches profitability would be risky and potentially unsustainable.

Airbus Exceeded Its Delivery Target In 2025

Airbus delivered beyond its aircraft delivery target in 2025. Over the year, the manufacturer handed over a total of 793 airplanes, exceeding its goal by three units. The European company had targeted 790 deliveries for 2025, a figure that was revised downward earlier in the year.

Airbus was forced to cut its 2025 guidance, which had forecasted a delivery of 820 airplanes due to supplier quality issues affecting fuselage panels, problems that disrupted delivery flow for the A320 family. The European plane maker delivered a total of 607 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, 93 Airbus A220 family aircraft, 57 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft, and 36 Airbus A330neo long-range widebody planes.

Airbus’ rival Boeing delivered a total of 600 aircraft in 2025, marking its highest annual total since 2018 and signaling a significant recovery. Data published on January 13, 2026, shows that in the fourth quarter the company delivered 117 aircraft from the 737 family, along with 27 787 Dreamliners, 10 767s, and six 777s. Over the entire year, deliveries totaled 447 Boeing 737s, 88 Boeing 787s, 35 Boeing 777s, and 30 Boeing 767s.