SMBC Aviation CEO says Airbus should focus on smoothing deliveries

Sumitomo

26/01/2026 18:03

DUBLIN, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The head of leasing giant SMBC Aviation challenged Airbus AIR.PA and other manufacturers on Monday to bring an end to six years of supply chain problems and deliver aircraft on time, increasing pressure from major buyers to meet industrial deadlines.

Asked if he had a message for the new head of Airbus' jet division, who made a debut appearance at the Airline Economics conference, Peter Barrett told Reuters: "I think delivery: I've said this to him privately and I'm happy to say it publicly ... We all understand the challenges that COVID brought, but ultimately people need a degree of predictability and certainty."

 (Reporting by Tim Hepher and Padraic Halpin
Editing by Tomasz Janowski)

 ((tim.hepher@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 54 52; Reuters Messaging: tim.hepher.thomsonreuters@reuters.net))