On Thursday, industry sources reported that Airbus deliveries rose by 6% for the first half of the year, hitting 316 aircraft.

In June the European plane manufacturer delivered 72 aircraft, an increase of 20% from the 60 delivered in the same month last year, and up from 63 in the previous month.

The company, which is looking to complete 720 deliveries over the year, declined comment on the report ahead of its official publication on Friday.

The first-half performance of Airbus compares with the delivery of 297 aircraft in the first half of last year, before a negative adjustment of two aircraft which was in relation to the situation with Russia.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic the aviation manufacturing sector has been plagued with issues with supply chains and labor shortages.

Following a bumpy start to the year, in an interview with Reuters, Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer said that a “more predictable” industrial pattern was emerging for Airbus, and that was producing what appeared to be the start of a more positive trend in deliveries.

Jeffries said in a report this week that although underlying aircraft production remained soft compared with the rates being targeted, it appeared poised to increase this summer. He had predicted there would be 70 deliveries in June.

Airbus will issue its report on its first half results on July 26th.