(Reuters) – Airbus jetliner deliveries have been flat in September, in contrast with the earlier month, heralding one other end-year dash to permit the European planemaker to achieve its total 2021 goal.

Airbus delivered 40 plane final month to deliver the entire to date this 12 months to 424 plane, up 24% from the identical level a 12 months in the past, which was closely marked by the COVID-19 disaster, however down 25% from the nine-month mark in 2019.

The world’s largest planemaker is concentrating on 600 deliveries for the entire of 2021. Deliveries are usually skewed in the direction of the ultimate quarter of the 12 months.

“Deliveries remained at considerably sluggish August ranges, implying a list construct for Q3 total, although it stays properly on monitor to realize its upwardly-revised 2021 steering,” Stifel analyst Harry Breach mentioned in a word.

Airbus offered only one airplane in September, a personal A319neo, it mentioned in a month-to-month abstract. For the primary 9 months, it offered 270 planes or a web complete of 133 after cancellations.

Airbus leads rival Boeing (NYSE:) on deliveries this 12 months however lags its U.S. rival on new orders.

As much as end-August, Boeing offered 683 jets or 280 after cancellations and conversions. It delivered 206 jets.

The U.S. planemaker is because of difficulty September numbers on Tuesday.