European planemaker Airbus forecasts flat deliveries in 2021

European planemaker Airbus axed its dividend for a second year and forecast flat deliveries in 2021 as it braces for more coronavirus uncertainty in the wake of an annual loss, Reuters reported.

The company’s decision to restore key business targets is the latest evidence of a tentative return towards normal after the pandemic, which has severely hurt air travel, Reuters reported.

Rival Boeing has yet to set out detailed targets, having been mired in a separate crisis over the grounding of its 737 MAX, which helped Airbus to reclaim the title of largest global jetmaker.

However, several analysts warned that the deliberately cautious delivery forecast from Airbus jarred with the company’s more optimistic plans on production. These call for a partial recovery later this year, albeit more slowly than first planned.

The risk, they said, is that this would add to a surplus of almost 100 planes parked outside Airbus factories.