Airbus reports flat first-half deliveries

Europe's Airbus posted flat first-half deliveries on Friday as it struggles to convert rising production plans into handovers to airlines amid tight global supply chains. The world's largest planemaker said it delivered 60 commercial airplanes in June, bringing the total for the year so far to 297, unchanged from the halfway point last year. "Airbus appears impacted by some production constraints," said Jefferies analyst Chloe Lemarie, who had earlier predicted the 21% year-on-year drop in June deliveries to 60 airplanes. Airbus needs to boost second-half deliveries by 35% to reach its full-year target of 720 units, she said in an investor note. Airbus posted an adjusted net total of 295 first-half deliveries after deducting two jets originally destined for Russia's Aeroflot that it had booked last year. On the demand side, Airbus reported 442 orders, or a net total of 259 after cancellations in the first half, up sharply from 38 net orders at the same point last year. That included seven A350 Freighters to at least one undisclosed buyer. Airbus also booked a recently announced major order for 52 jets to Australia's Qantas, including 12 wide-bodies amid signs of a pickup in demand for large models. Delta topped up a fleet of A330neo jets with one extra order. The US major is widely expected to announce an order for some 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 in coming days.<br/>