Airbus still expects to deliver around 870 aircraft this year despite delivering fewer aircraft in the March quarter compared to the same time last year. The aerospace and defence group says in an earnings release that during the three months ended March, it delivered 114 commercial aircraft, down 12 units from the same period in 2025. In part, the delays were driven by ongoing delays in receiving geared turbofan engines from Pratt & Whitney, while chief financial officer Thomas Toepfer noted during its earnings call that it had resolved an "administrative delay" affecting delivery of almost 20 aircraft to China. Those delays cumulatively drove revenue for the commercial aircraft division down 11% to €8.4 billion ($9.84 billion), and its adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell 84% to €81 million. More positively, it received net orders after cancellations for 398 aircraft in the quarter compared to 204 in the previous corresponding period, taking its order backlog to 9,037 at the end of March. The challenges at its commercial aircraft division overshadowed stronger revenue performance at its Defence and Space unit and stable revenue from Airbus Helicopters. Overall revenue for the group declined 7% to €12.7 billion, while reported EBIT was down 53% to €224 million. Net income fell 26% to €586 million. "The operating environment remains dynamic and complex. We are closely monitoring the potential impact from the fast-changing situation in the Middle East," says chief executive Guillame Faury. During the company's earnings call, he clarified that the Iran conflict had no direct impact on commercial deliveries and that growth was continuing in the market. "In early 2026, the passenger traffic expanded and air cargo demand showed sustained momentum. Short term, we are monitoring the situation in the Middle East and the global air traffic, and we remain confident in the fundamentals of the industry," says Faury. More immediately, however, he points out that the commercial aircraft unit will "continue to ramp up and produce as per our plan while navigating the shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines." Faury also says that Airbus is "not producing gliders at this moment", referring to airframes that are awaiting their engines. That plan expects A220 output to increase to 13 per month in 2028, while A320 production will reach 70-75 units per month by the end of 2027, stabilising at 75 in the following year. On the widebody front, it continues to target output of five A330s per month by 2028 and 12 A350s in 2028. Airbus reaffirmed its February guidance that based on commercial deliveries of around 870 aircraft, it expects to record adjusted EBIT of €7.5 billion for the full year.

Frontier Airlines is suing American Airlines for damages stemming from a groundhandling collision at Boston Logan International airport in November 2024, despite reaching a partial settlement back in September 2025. Frontier alleges in a 17 April complaint filed to the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts that American conducted an "out-of-compliance parking manoeuvre" late in the evening of 25 November 2024 which damaged one of its Airbus A321s. It explains that while the narrowbody jet was parked at gate E14A at the airport and was "properly positioned at the appropriate stop bar for an Airbus A321, with passengers on board", an American Boeing 777 was manoeuvring to park at the adjacent E13 gate. "During the American aircraft’s parking manoeuver at Gate E13, the American aircraft failed to maintain adequate clearance from the Frontier aircraft, resulting in the American aircraft colliding with and damaging the sharklet and wing of the Frontier aircraft," the complaint says. Frontier's aircraft was rendered out of service for six days and the repairs cost over $670,000, the complaint says. On 12 September 2025, American and Frontier reached a partial settlement, the complaint says, resolving 50% of the repair and restoration expense. "American has failed and refused to pay for the remaining damages arising from the incident," Frontier says. The airline is seeking monetary damages for uncompensated losses, as well as pre-judgement interest, costs and attorneys' fees, and any additional relief deemed appropriate by the court. Frontier tells Cirium: "Per standard practice, we are unable to offer any comment on pending litigation." Cirium has contacted American for comment

Ryanair will close its seven‑aircraft base at Berlin Brandenburg airport on 24 October and cut the number of flights it operates to and from the German capital by 50% over the winter. The airline cites the airport's decision to raise fees for the period 2027-29, on top of earlier post-pandemic increases. Traffic at Berlin has meanwhile fallen, Ryanair observes. All seven aircraft Ryanair currently has based in Berlin will be redeployed to European countries that have abolished aviation taxes, including Sweden, Slovakia, Albania and Italy, adds Ryanair. It will continue serving Berlin using aircraft based elsewhere, but expects passenger numbers will halve from 4.5 million to 2.2 million in 2027. "German aviation is broken," argues chief executive Eddie Wilson, adding: "It is uncompetitive, yet there is no strategy to cut aviation taxes or high airport fees – despite Ryanair warning that Germany would lose traffic, connectivity, jobs and trade." Ryanair has since 2019 closed bases in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart, and ended flights to several other German airports, while continuing to expand in lower‑cost European markets. Separately, the airline has announced that from 10 November check-in and bag drops for its flights will close 1h before departure, against 40min currently. This, it foresees, will "provide more time for passengers to get through airport security and passport queues, which will reduce the very small number of passengers who currently miss their flight departure as they are getting stuck in these airport queues".