Despite Q3 profit, Airbus cautious on jet delivery target after snags

Airbus has been struggling with fresh industrial problems as production of its fast-selling A321neo passenger jet hit a snag in Hamburg, Germany

European planemaker Airbus maintained its key target for jet deliveries on Wednesday, but warned reaching it would be a "greater stretch" after a sequence of industrial problems.

The cautious tone on deliveries, which drive revenues and profits, came despite higher than expected third-quarter core earnings at Europe's largest aerospace group.

The maker of jetliners, satellites and helicopters said it had made an adjusted operating profit of 1.576 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in the quarter on revenues of 15.451 billion.

Analysts on average expected third-quarter adjusted operating profit of 1.441 billion euros on sales of 15.316 billion, according to a Reuters poll.

Airbus has been