Manufacturer Ships the Airline’s A350 From France to Tokyo

Airbus is resurrecting a former trade war tactic by redirecting aircraft deliveries to US airlines through other countries to avoid President Trump’s tariff chaos. The move is part of a broader effort to minimize the financial impact of proposed import duties on civil aircraft.

CEO Guillaume Faury explained during Airbus’s first-quarter earnings call that aircraft sent to the US from Europe are subject to tariffs if delivered directly, and those assembled in Alabama also trigger a 10% tariff since parts are still imported. To bypass these charges, Airbus is shipping aircraft to third countries for delivery, particularly for US airlines with international operations.

A recent example involves a Delta Air Lines A350-900 originally scheduled to fly from Toulouse, France, to Tokyo for delivery. Though the flight was delayed, the aircraft is still expected to be handed over outside the United States. Airbus used similar methods during the 2020–2021 US-EU trade dispute, when tariffs of up to 15% were imposed on aircraft due to subsidy disagreements between Boeing and Airbus.

"We are doing what we were doing five years ago in a similar situation," Faury explained.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian has also been very upfront about the airline’s intentions, stating last month that, “we will not be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries. We've been clear with Airbus on that, and we'll work through and see what happens." Airbus and Delta now appear to have coordinated an approach that avoids the fees altogether.

Airbus is currently scheduled to deliver 43 aircraft to Delta by the end of 2024. If tariff threats persist, the company may prioritize deliveries to non-US customers. Faury has called for a return to zero tariffs on all civil aerospace parts and aircraft, citing the disruption caused by uncertain trade policy.

On the bright side, Airbus reported a 33% increase in net income in the first quarter of 2025, reaching nearly $890 million. The company maintained its full-year guidance, but left out the potential incoming tariffs due to the unpredictability of the situation.

FMI: www.delta.com, www.airbus.com