Airbus has identified a quality defect affecting hundreds of its A321neo aircraft, linked to improperly applied anti-corrosion primer on internal fuselage components. The issue stems from a subcontractor to the Italian supplier Leonardo, which Airbus said impacted the corrosion resistance of strengthening elements known as stringers in the forward fuselage. Approximately 500 jets are believed to be affected, including aircraft already in commercial service and others still held by the manufacturer.

The Paris-based plane maker notified its airline customers, which include British Airways, Delta, and EasyJet, of the defect. Airbus emphasized the flaw does not present an immediate safety risk and reaffirmed its delivery target of about 870 aircraft for 2026. The company has already delivered 475 A321neos worldwide between January and August.

Shares of Airbus fell between 1 and 1.5 percent following the disclosure, reflecting investor concerns over potential operational or reputational impacts. Industry sources indicated the anti-corrosion primer was incorrectly applied by a subcontractor to Leonardo, although the latter declined to comment on the matter.

This development follows previous production challenges for Airbus, notably related to fuselage panel issues that caused the manufacturer to miss its 2025 delivery targets. Nevertheless, Airbus remains confident it can meet its current objectives and manage the situation with minimal disruption.

Airbus has communicated with affected operators to address the problem, but details on remediation efforts or timeframes have not been publicly disclosed. The company continues to monitor the extent of the coating defect and is undertaking necessary measures to ensure ongoing airworthiness and customer confidence.