Airbus received no new orders in May: a temporary lull or a wake-up call for the industry?

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus ended May 2025 without a single new order for civil aircraft, which was a notable exception in a series of stable delivery periods. Despite this, the company's management does not express concern, believing that the situation is caused by a strategic pause before the biggest aviation event of the year — the international air show in Le Bourget, which starts on June 16.

According to official data, in May, Airbus shipped 51 aircraft to customers. The main volume traditionally fell on the narrow-body A320neo family — 189 airliners from the beginning of 2025. One of them entered the fleet of the Kazakh low-cost airline FlyArystan, and Hungarian Wizz Air became the first operator of the latest A321XLR model.
Also in May were delivered:

• 3 A350 aircraft (wide-body long-haul),
• 5 A220 airliners (regional),
• 3 units of A330-900.

The total for the first five months of the year is 243 aircraft delivered, which still makes Airbus one of the global market leaders in terms of shipments.
Despite active deliveries, no new orders were received in May. The company emphasizes that such periods of calm are not uncommon on the eve of large-scale industry events. Many air carriers and leasing companies prefer to coincide the signing of contracts with such events as the Le Bourget air show, where the agreements concluded receive a wide international response.

At the same time, since the beginning of the year, Airbus has received orders for 291 aircraft, which indicates a stable demand for the concern's products. Attention is also focused on a possible deal with China, where, according to unofficial data, the authorities are considering the purchase of up to 500 Airbus aircraft amid declining confidence in the American manufacturer Boeing.

The absence of orders in a particular month does not necessarily indicate systemic problems. According to analysts, the current pause may be temporary and reflects market cyclicity rather than a loss of interest in Airbus products. The company continues to increase deliveries and shows a strong position against the background of challenges faced by its main competitor Boeing, including technical failures and a prolonged crisis of confidence.

It is expected that the upcoming air show in Le Bourget may become a key point for concluding large-scale deals that can compensate for the statistical failure of May. In addition, Airbus is committed to expanding its model range, including the A321XLR and developing initiatives in the field of sustainable aviation.

Despite the lack of new orders in May, Airbus maintains a steady production pace and remains a key player in the global aviation industry. Upcoming events in Paris can significantly adjust the statistics and set the tone for the rest of the year.