Airbus better at managing supply chain disruption, senior exec says

STORY: Disruptions to the supply chain that are delaying aircraft deliveries are lessening and Airbus is getting much better at managing it.

That’s according to a senior company executive on Monday (Mar 31).

The European planemaker, which delivered 766 jets last year, roughly in line with its target, has faced industrial delays.

It’s due in part to problems in the aerospace supply chain.

Which has also hampered the recovery of embattled U.S. rival Boeing.

Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, Airbus commercial aircraft executive vice president of sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery said it is taking a long time for the supply chain to get back on track.

“We think that those disruptions are going to continue a little bit longer unfortunately but we have a much better handle (on it) and we are managing that supply chain with much more anticipation than before thanks to the learning we had during the pandemic.”

De Saint-Exupery was in Taiwan to sign an order with the island’s larger carrier China Airlines for 10 Airbus A350-1000s.

In December, China Airlines said it would split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker.

The closely watched deal is worth almost $12 billion.