In the initial quarter of 2024, European manufacturer manged to dominate the American giant. The American aerospace giant distributed 83 commercial aircraft to its clientele whereas the European counter part delivered 142 aircraft.
By J Prakash
This included 67 737s, three 767s, and 13 787 Dreamliner's. In comparison, Boeing's European competitor managed to deliver 142 aircraft during the same period. Among these deliveries, 128 were single-aisle planes, comprising both the smaller A220 and the A320 family, which directly competes with Boeing's 737.
During February and March, Airbus surpassed Boeing in the delivery of A320neo-family jets compared to Boeing's 737 Max jets. January exhibited a similar trend, with Airbus delivering 26 A320neo-family aircraft against Boeing's 25 Max jets. However, Boeing's production of the 737 decreased to 18 units in February due to regulatory scrutiny of the manufacturer's quality and safety systems prompted by the Alaska Airlines Max 9 door-plug incident the previous month. The number rose to 24 in March, culminating in a first-quarter delivery total of 67 for the 737.
Meanwhile, Airbus produced 39 A320neo-family jets in February and 51 in March, amounting to a quarterly total of 116. Additionally, the European manufacturer delivered 12 A220s during this period.
Boeing has maintained a production rate below its approved rate of 38 737s per month. This decision followed the US Federal Aviation Administration's refusal to allow the higher production rate proposed by Boeing before the Alaska Max 9 incident. Instead, Boeing focused on improving quality and safety, as mandated by the regulator.
At the Bank of Americas Global Industrials Conference on 20 March, Boeing's finance chief, Brian West, revealed that the company had opted to halt its expansion plans even before the regulatory requirement.
"We are the ones who made the decision to limit the rates on the 737 program below 38 per month until we feel like we are prepared," he stated. West emphasized that the current focus for the manufacturer is to enhance quality and enhance supplier stability, rather than making decisions about future rates.
Airbus had previously announced its aim to achieve a monthly output of Rate 65 for A320neo-family jets by the end of the year, with a target of reaching 75 by 2026. Consequently, Airbus is expected to widen its lead in single-aisle deliveries as the year progresses. As part of the same ramp-up plan, Airbus aims to manufacture 14 A220s and 10 A350s per month by 2026.
Regarding widebody deliveries, Boeing and Airbus are closely matched. In the first quarter, Boeing delivered 13 787s, one 767 Freighter, and two 767-based tankers, while Airbus handed over seven A330neos and seven A350s.
In terms of year-to-date single-aisle orders, both manufacturers are on par. Boeing secured orders for 98 Max jets in the first quarter, including 85 from American Airlines, along with undisclosed customers placing orders for 10- and three-unit orders. Airbus, meanwhile, received 96 A320neo-family orders in the first quarter, all in March. These included 85 A321neos for American, 10 A320neos for IndiGo, and one A319neo for a private customer.
In the widebody segment, Airbus leads with 71 A350 and three A330-900 orders in the first quarter, compared to Boeing's intake of 29 777 and four 787 orders. Notable orders include Korean Air's 27 A350-1000s and six -900s, Delta Air Lines' 20 A350-1000s, and Ethiopian Airlines' 11 A350-900s. Boeing received separate orders from unidentified customers for 20 777X jets and one 777F, while Ethiopian Airlines ordered eight 777-9s, and Royal Brunei Airlines ordered four 787-9s.
Data Source: Cirium
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