PARIS, France: Aircraft delivery delays at Airbus are now expected to stretch into 2028, as the European planemaker continues to grapple with persistent supply-chain disruptions that have plagued the industry since the pandemic, according to several industry sources.

During a recent customer event in Toulouse, Airbus informed airline clients that bottlenecks affecting engines and structural components could push aircraft deliveries back by up to three years. The delays affect models due in 2027 and 2028 and are being communicated incrementally, executives said.

"Airbus is talking about delays to aircraft in both 2027 and 2028," a senior airline executive told Reuters. Another source noted that aircraft scheduled for delivery later this decade have already been marked for six-month delays.

"There is no real sign of improvement," said a third industry contact following the Toulouse meeting.

Although Airbus has reported modest progress in easing parts and labor shortages, challenges remain. The delays also cast doubt on the company's ability to ramp up monthly production of its bestselling A320-family jets to 75 units by 2027—a goal first postponed during the pandemic.

"We are working together with suppliers to mitigate the impact of the current situation on our customers," an Airbus spokesperson said.

Air Lease Corp recently confirmed it had received notifications of delivery delays for A320neo and A321neo aircraft into 2027 and 2028. The leasing sector often feels the effects of such delays more acutely than airlines, highlighting broader concerns over aircraft availability.

Sources also noted that Airbus' May deliveries are likely to fall short of last year's levels. As of late May, the company had handed over 32 jets and may end the month just above 40—well below the 53 deliveries recorded in May 2023.

Despite these shortfalls, Airbus reaffirmed its full-year goal of 820 aircraft deliveries, a seven percent increase from 2023. But the planemaker cautioned that engine supply issues could intensify before easing.

CFM International, a joint venture between GE and Safran and the world's largest engine supplier, has not yet finalized a timeline to support Airbus's 75-jet-per-month target. Safran has said CFM is seeing signs of supply-chain improvement, but the road to recovery is expected to be slow.