Paris, Jan 25, 2026, 21:20 CET — The market has closed.
- Shares of Airbus SE ended the day at 206.80 euros, showing minimal movement.
- CEO Guillaume Faury cautioned employees about new geopolitical and trade challenges following “significant” damage suffered last year.
- Traders are eyeing any signs of an AirAsia A220 order, alongside Airbus updates expected later this week.
Airbus SE shares return to the spotlight in Paris Monday following a caution from the planemaker’s CEO about escalating trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainties. The stock wrapped up Friday’s session nearly unchanged. Airbus last traded at 206.80 euros on Jan. 23.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury warned in a leaked internal letter, seen by Reuters, that early 2026 has brought “an unprecedented number of crises.” He urged employees to brace for ongoing challenges after trade tensions inflicted “significant collateral damage, logistically and financially.” Faury highlighted pressures from U.S. protectionism and escalating U.S.-China frictions disrupting parts and deliveries—problems that persist amid delays in engine arrivals. Reuters
This is crucial now, as investors have been banking on a straightforward wager: demand remains robust, while production and supply chains determine the outcome. Even a slight sign of fresh disruption — whether from tariffs, export controls, or clogged engine supplies — can swiftly alter forecasts for deliveries, cash flow, and profit margins.
Airbus is closing in on a deal to sell about 100 A220 jets to AirAsia, with options for another 50, according to industry sources who spoke to Reuters. A formal announcement could come within days. The company is scheduled to give a pre-quarterly update around Jan. 27, ahead of its full-year results on Feb. 19, which may shed more light on management’s outlook.
Friday’s quiet session kept shares hovering close to recent peaks, following a robust rally that has investors on edge for any hint that deliveries or supply might be faltering once more.
Faury’s memo also highlighted challenges on the factory floor. While supply chains have gotten better since the COVID era, he warned the “most serious difficulties” still lie with Pratt & Whitney and CFM engines, which are crucial for key single-aisle programs.
Competition drives everything. Faury pointed to an upcoming development phase as Airbus gears up to launch a successor to its A320-family staple. Boeing is widely anticipated to chase after its own next-generation aircraft when the time is right.
Airbus is scrambling to move past recent operational setbacks. In late November, it ordered urgent repairs on 6,000 A320-family aircraft in what Reuters called one of the company’s biggest recalls ever, linked to a flight-control software glitch.
A confirmed AirAsia A220 order would mark a significant win for Airbus in the smaller single-aisle segment, highlighting strong demand from Asian airlines eager to diversify their fleets. Reuters also reported that Embraer has been competing for a slice of AirAsia’s business.
Risks remain on both fronts. Neither AirAsia nor the other party has confirmed the talks, so the deal could still fall through. On the macro side, trade policies can shift suddenly, and engine delays tend to pop up at inconvenient times during deliveries.
In the coming week, eyes will be on whether Airbus or AirAsia officially confirms the A220 order, and what Airbus reveals in its late-January update regarding production flow and supply chain issues. The next major date to mark is Feb. 19, when Airbus publishes its 2025 results.
