Airbus CEO strikes more upbeat note on CFM engine supplies

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury on Tuesday voiced increasing confidence over engine supplies that have been hampering jet deliveries, telling Reuters that CFM International should be able to supply enough units but it would be "very tight". A shortfall in supplies from the world's largest engine maker by units sold, co-owned by GE Aerospace and Safran, has been partly blamed for sluggish Airbus jet deliveries and helped trigger a cut in annual targets in July. Airbus faces a hurdle of delivering around 200 jets in the last two months to reach a 2024 goal of "around" 770 jets - a task some analysts say looks increasingly out of reach. Asked whether he believed CFM would be able to release enough engines to Airbus to support the planemaker's end-year goals, Faury said: "In the short term it is very tight ... I will only know for sure at the end of November". He added: "It should be ok; I don't know yet. It will be within a few engines - not tens of engines - if any." CFM had no immediate comment. The comments by the head of the world's largest planemaker - although carefully calibrated - convey a more relaxed tone over engine supplies since the summer and follow negotiations behind the scenes over allocations, according to industry sources. Founded 50 years ago, CFM is one of two suppliers for the narrowbody A320neo family, Airbus's best-selling jet, competing with RTX unit Pratt & Whitney. It is also the sole engine supplier for the Boeing 737 MAX.<br/>