Airbus has acknowledged that Boeing is likely to secure more net aircraft orders in 2025. This admission comes even as the European aerospace group continues to advance its product development, highlighted by the recent showcase of its A321XLR with American Airlines. The central question for investors is whether this new long-range variant can help close the recent order gap and compensate for a revised delivery target.
Operational Strengths Amid Competitive Pressure
Despite the order book challenge, Airbus has demonstrated several operational and technological successes:
* A321XLR Debut: American Airlines unveiled its first A321XLR aircraft, a model pivotal for opening new, direct transatlantic routes with a single-aisle jet.
* Defense Contract Renewal: Greece extended a support contract worth €50 million for NH90 helicopters, securing ongoing service revenue.
* Export Progress: Indonesia successfully completed the maiden flight of its second A400M military transport aircraft, signaling progress in defense export campaigns.
* Efficiency Innovation: “Fello’fly” flight tests demonstrated fuel savings of up to 5% through formation flying, a development relevant to industry decarbonization goals.
A significant strategic move was the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems assets in early December. This integration aims to bring key fuselage and wing component production in Kinston, Belfast, and Saint‑Nazaire more tightly under Airbus’s control, with the goal of stabilizing output for the A350 and A220 programs by 2026.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Airbus?
Analyzing the Order Shortfall
CEO Guillaume Faury confirmed on Friday that Boeing holds a clear lead in gross orders for the current year. The U.S. manufacturer has secured approximately 1,000 aircraft orders compared to Airbus’s roughly 700. Company statements indicate sustained demand for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and resolutions in U.S. trade disputes have bolstered its figures. In contrast, Airbus emphasizes its continued leadership in aircraft deliveries and its overall backlog. However, the group faces near-term pressure after revising its 2025 delivery target downward to around 790 jets.
On the markets, Airbus shares closed at $56.85 on Friday. The stock has advanced 41.18% year-to-date and currently trades 7.73% below its 52-week high.
Key Factors for the Road Ahead
The A321XLR is positioned as a potential near-term revenue driver, particularly if it makes new transatlantic routes economically viable for airlines. Whether it can offset Boeing’s order advantage will depend on several factors: the pace of aircraft deliveries, the successful integration of the newly acquired Spirit AeroSystems operations, and avoiding further recalls or software issues. A concrete milestone will be the publication of the full 2025 annual report in February 2026. Until then, production metrics and the commercial rollout of the A321XLR are likely to be the primary drivers of market sentiment and share price performance.
Ad
Airbus Stock: Buy or Sell?! New Airbus Analysis from December 15 delivers the answer:
The latest Airbus figures speak for themselves: Urgent action needed for Airbus investors. Is it worth buying or should you sell? Find out what to do now in the current free analysis from December 15.
Airbus: Buy or sell? Read more here...
