Airbus SE delivered its fewest commercial aircraft in the first quarter since 2009, delivering just 125 planes compared to 154 in the same period last year. The decline raises concerns about the European aerospace giant's ability to meet its full-year delivery target of 800 aircraft. The drop comes amid ongoing supply chain disruptions and production challenges that have plagued the industry.

Deliveries for the first three months of 2025 fell 19% year-over-year, marking the weakest Q1 performance in 16 years. The shortfall follows a turbulent period for Airbus, which has faced labor disputes, component shortages, and production bottlenecks at its final assembly lines. The company's A320neo family, typically its best-selling narrow-body jet, saw particularly steep declines in deliveries.

The delivery miss intensifies pressure on Airbus management to demonstrate operational improvements. With Boeing also struggling with production issues, the entire commercial aviation sector faces questions about recovery timelines. Airbus must now accelerate production in the second quarter to have any realistic chance of hitting its annual target, though industry analysts suggest this will be challenging given current constraints.