European planemaker Airbus softened its key target for jet deliveries and warned that reaching it would be a "greater stretch" after a sequence of industrial problems.
The cautious tone on deliveries - which implied a 2% cut in the annual target by changing its parameters to include a recently acquired Canadian jet - came despite higher than expected third-quarter core earnings and strong demand from airlines.
The maker of jetliners, satellites and helicopters said it had made an adjusted operating profit of €1.57 billion in the quarter on revenues of €15.4 billion.
Analysts on average expected third-quarter adjusted operating profit of €1.4 billion euros on sales of €15.3 billion, according to a Reuters poll.
Airbus shares rose 0.3% to €94.21.
The company has been struggling with fresh industrial problems as production of its fast-selling A321neo passenger jet hit a snag in Hamburg, Germany, even as bottlenecks eased at some engine makers.
The problems with the A321neo, a model central to Airbus's ambition to dominate the top end of the single-aisle market and thwart Boeing's plans for a new mid-sized passenger jet, were first reported by Reuters.
"A lot remains to be done before the end of the year to fulfil commitments," Airbus said in a statement.
Airbus stuck to its headline target of around 800 commercial deliveries in 2018 but disclosed this now included 18 deliveries of the Bombardier CSeries jet, renamed A220.
Delegates at a Hong Kong gathering this week had warned that Airbus faced a challenge to meet the crucial goal.
Airbus also trimmed its cashflow target for the year.
