By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) -Europe’s Airbus swung the spotlight on major suppliers after a drop in September deliveries that its planemaking chief called “disappointing” on Friday, but sought to allay concerns over industrial contagion from a strike at rival Boeing.

Christian Scherer, CEO of the group’s planemaking business, said engine supplies from CFM International continued to play a decisive role in its ability to deliver some airplanes after a drop in supplies earlier this year.

“CFM is a bottleneck,” he told French journalists, adding it remained on the “critical path” – industry jargon for the decisive factor in hitting production or industrial goals. CFM provides most engines for the best-selling A320neo family.

“I regret it, but it is the case,” he told the AJPAE aerospace media association.

Airbus lowered industrial targets and issued a profit warning in July, citing a shortfall in supplies of engines from engine maker CFM, co-owned by GE Aerospace and France’s Safran, as well as shortages of parts from other suppliers.

CFM declined comment.

GE Aerospace CFO Rahul Ghai told a Jefferies conference last month that third-quarter engine output would be better than in the second quarter, “but still (show) pressure on a year-over-year basis”. He expected more improvement in the fourth quarter.

Airbus deliveries fell 9% in September to 50 jets, prompting some analysts to question its ability to reach the 11% rise needed to meet a full-year targets of 770.

“Disappointing in September, I admit; we were targeting a little bit more,” Scherer said.

“What’s hidden behind the September figures are aircraft that have been produced but not delivered,” he said.

He did not give reasons for the gap but industry sources said the comment indicated that Airbus had been forced to roll out some planes without engines, nicknamed “gliders”.

Such moves are rare because of the extra cash tied up in inventory but are designed to prevent kinks in the Airbus assembly line, which is already widely seen as behind target.

At the same time, Scherer said, Airbus has resolved in-house production constraints.

Airbus will report its results on Oct. 30 and many expect planemakers and suppliers to continue to blame each other for ongoing industrial delays.

NO STRIKE IMPACT

Scherer also gave an update on Spirit AeroSystems, in the process of being carved up between Airbus and its main customer Boeing after financial and industrial problems.

Production rates at the U.S. aerstructures supplier are “not exactly where we would like them to be,” Scherer said, adding that Airbus had sent in dozens of engineering and procurement experts.

“We have brought in technical support for Spirit to help them, despite the difficulties that the company is facing, to secure the deliveries to Airbus as best they can,” he said, adding: “Sections are sometimes arriving with missing pieces”.

Reuters reported on Thursday that Airbus was facing concerns over production of key structural parts for A350 and A220 jets by Spirit AeroSystems, and had taken measures including deploying staff to affected plants and air-freighting parts.

Spirit spokesperson Joe Buccino reiterated on Friday it was delivering according to Airbus’ schedule. “The presence of Airbus teammates at Spirit is not new and does not indicate new or urgent production issues,” he added.

Spirit has been at the centre of a sprawling crisis at former parent Boeing following the mid-air blowout of a door plug in January, and both Boeing and Spirit have been further affected by a strike stopping production of most Boeing jets.

Analysts say Airbus is unable to take immediate advantage of its arch-rival’s woes because its order books and plants are full. But concerns have been raised about the underlying health of the overlapping supply chain.

“The situation at Boeing and its repercussions on an already fragile chain are of course something we are monitoring with great attention,” Scherer said.

Despite the industry’s problems in restoring output after the pandemic, demand is growing and Scherer hinted at increased output of the A330neo. Production is running at about four jets a month but will not necessarily stay at that level, he said.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Toby Chopra, Kim Coghill and Louise Heavens)

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