Airbus is not expecting to raise A330 production for the next few years, but foresees monthly output lifting from four aircraft to five in 2029.

The airframer updated its production expectations for the twinjet programme in a half-year financial briefing.

It says A330 production is “stabilising” at the rate of four per month but the output will be increased in order to meet customer demand.

Airbus had a backlog of 289 A330s as of 30 June – almost all A330neos, but with six A330-200s included.

Other monthly aircraft production targets remain unchanged, with the airframer aiming for 14 for the A220 in 2026, 75 for its A320neo family in 2027, and 12 for the A350 in 2028.

Airbus is still dealing with “persistent” engine-supply issues on the A320neo programme, says chief executive Guillaume Faury.

This contributed to a dip in first-half commercial aircraft deliveries to 306, compared with 323 last year, although Airbus is maintaining a full-year delivery target of 820.

“The operating environment is complex and fast-changing,” says Faury.

He says the airframer had parked 60 ‘gliders’ – aircraft awaiting engine installation – by the end of June. “We’re counting on [the engine suppliers] to recover in the second half of the year,” adds Faury.

“The target is no ‘gliders’ by the end of this year.”

Faury says the “lion’s share” of parked aircraft are missing CFM International engines, although there is also a “gap” attributed to the recent short Pratt & Whitney strike.

CFM has a plan “consistent” with Airbus’s needs through to the end of the year, he states: ”But I don’t want to hide that it won’t be a walk in the park, and it’s more backloaded than we’d like.”

Airbus’s commercial aircraft revenues slipped by 2% to €20.8 billion ($23.8 billion) as a result of the lower deliveries, and the situation was also reflected in the division’s adjusted half-year earnings which were down 12% to €1.7 billion.