PARIS, May 7 (Reuters) - Airbus delivered 61

aircraft in April, up 13% from the same month of 2023, bringing

deliveries so far this year to 203, the European planemaker said

on Tuesday.

An unidentified airline ordered 51 A321neo jets during the

month and British Airways owner IAG reshuffled five

narrow-body planes within its group, Airbus monthly data showed.

So far this year, the world's largest planemaker has sold

227 planes - or 222 after allowing for the conversions within

the IAG airline group's order book.

Airbus meanwhile said there was no change in its target for

entry to service of the A350 Freighter after a major leasing

company questioned the development timeline.

Airbus said last year it was delaying the entry to service

to 2026 from 2025. It also said separately that it was

increasing the size of the plane's main cargo loading door.

Air Lease Corp ( AL ) Executive Chairman Steven

Udvar-Hazy told analysts on Monday the design change meant more

time would be needed for certification, implying possible new

delays.

"We believe, based on the information we've gotten from

Airbus, that the programme will be delayed, because of the

certification of this new configuration on the cargo door and

its effect on the fuselage and the flooring and the structure of

the airframe," he told analysts.

Airbus said there was no change to guidance last updated

in April 2023. "We confirm the EIS (entry into service) was

adjusted to 2026 back in 2023," a spokesperson said.

An Airbus slide presented to media at the Singapore Airshow

in February suggested the entry to service would be towards the

latter half of 2026, with flight tests spanning the second half

of 2025 and the first half of 2026.