Airbus reaffirms delivery target despite A321neo flaw

Airbus shares slid on September 25 after the European planemaker identified a coating flaw affecting hundreds of its bestselling A321neo jets. The company said the issue is not a safety risk and reaffirmed its 2026 delivery target of about 870 aircraft. Airbus delivered 475 jets between January and August. The defect relates to anti-corrosion coating on stringers—strengthening components inside the forward fuselage—on a batch of A321neo aircraft. Industry sources link the problem to an incorrectly applied primer by Italian supplier TESI, a subcontractor to Leonardo. Airbus says a repair has been identified and airlines are still accepting affected jets, sometimes with concessions. Analysts warn it could complicate Airbus’ ramp to 75 jets per month.