PARIS, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Airbus deliveries

accelerated sharply to more than 80 aircraft in November as the

planemaker recovers from a summer lull and sets its sights on

end-year targets that had previously seemed out of reach,

industry sources said.

Airbus is officially targeting "around 770" 2024 deliveries.

Few analysts expect it to reach that headline figure after

supply snags, but many say the wording gives it flexibility to

deliver as few as 750 jets, which looks increasingly feasible.

After a mid-year profit warning driven in part by a

shortfall in engine supplies, deliveries spiked higher in

November after engine maker CFM and Airbus reached a deal over

short-term engine supplies, first reported by Reuters last week.

Industry sources said deliveries jumped at least 25% in

November from the same month last year to top the 80 mark,

bringing deliveries so far this year to 640 jets and leaving

some 110 to go. In December last year, Airbus delivered 112

jets.

If confirmed, it would be the highest November tally since

2018 when Airbus delivered 89 jets.

Jefferies analyst Chloe Lemarie predicted 85 deliveries

in November. "While the (full-year) 770 may now be out of reach,

we still see...765 as achievable," she said in a note to

investors.

Others cautioned Airbus would need to keep up strong

momentum to reach its end-year target for deliveries, which are

closely related to revenues and cash generation.

"Last week looks to be the change needed to get close to

their target," said Rob Morris, head of global consultancy at

UK-based Cirium Ascend.

"The only question I have now is: have they rinsed their

stock or can they keep averaging four per day for the next 30

days?"

SUPPLY PENDULUM

Jet engine maker CFM, co-owned by GE Aerospace and

Safran, agreed last month to divert some engines to

Airbus as the planemaker tries to catch up on previous

delivery delays, Reuters reported last week.

The agreement follows tense negotiations over the

allocation of engines between new assembly lines and the repair

shops where airlines carry out maintenance to keep existing

planes flying.

Speaking to AFP in Belgium last week, Safran CEO Olivier

Andries confirmed that CFM had prioritised Airbus over airlines

on a temporary basis to feed the Airbus production lines with

engines in time to secure extra aircraft deliveries in 2024.

The pendulum is expected to swing back towards the

aftermarket to coincide with January, when Airbus slows down.

Some analysts have voiced concerns that the switch in

engines could dent margins for the engine companies, since

engine makers make more of their income out of high-margin

activities in the aftermarket than in equipping new aircraft.

But Bernstein analyst Douglas Harned said in a note that

CFM could flip engine supplies to Airbus planned for November

and December in order to help the planemaker prepare for a busy

end to the year while meeting its own targets for airline sales.

CFM has said it is working both to meet demand from

customers and to maximise fleet utilisation for airlines.