PARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Airbus delivered 50

jets in September, down from 55 a year earlier, industry sources

said.

The European planemaker accelerated the pace of deliveries

following a slow start to the month.

Airbus declined comment ahead of the publication of monthly

data on Oct 9.

If confirmed, a monthly tally of 50 deliveries would lift

the nine-month total close to 500 after 447 achieved between

January and August.

Airbus is targeting 770 deliveries for the year, implying a

sharp acceleration in the fourth quarter when deliveries do

traditionally increase.

However, analysts say global supply chains remain tight.