Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said that the trade war between the United States and China is no longer theoretical and is already causing serious logistical and financial damage to the company. Faury described 2026 as “an unprecedented year of crisis” and called on employees not only for solidarity but also for “self-reliance.”
Emphasizing that geopolitical tensions are directly affecting factory processes, Faury stated that the U.S.’s protectionist measures and the temporary suspension of engine and critical parts exports to China are putting Airbus under pressure. For Airbus, which assembles aircraft in China, this creates additional risk, while late engine deliveries, quality issues, and some software recalls are also squeezing production targets.
Faury noted that rising tensions pose a risk of delaying deliveries for Airbus, whose complex supply chain depends on both the U.S. and China. While planning to increase capacity in China and caught between political balances and expectations of growth in the narrowbody market, Airbus is trying to maintain flexibility in order to secure its supply chain and finance next-generation narrowbody aircraft projects.
