Airbus, the European aerospace giant, continues to push to meet its yearly performance target. According to latest data, it delivered 62 aircraft to 37 customers in October.
This now brings the manufacturer’s total deliveries to 559 aircraft across 77 customers for the year. While this marks a noteworthy improvement over 2023’s figures, Airbus continues to push to meet a challenging yearly guidance target.
Delivery Targets and Industry Dynamics
Currently, Airbus maintains an ambitious target of 770 deliveries for 2024. This was previously adjusted down from an initial 800 due to ongoing supply chain constraints. Having now achieved 559 deliveries to the end of October, this still leaves the manufacturer with over 200 to meet its guidance figure.
Some industry experts remain confident in the manufacturer’s ability to achieve approximately 750 deliveries by year-end, without a further downwards adjustment.
This projection would be dependent upon engine availability, and related persistent challenges in the aerospace supply chain.
Product Portfolio Performance
The A320neo family continues to dominate Airbus’s delivery portfolio, with the A321neo variant experiencing particularly robust demand. This success reflects the industry’s growing preference for fuel-efficient, single-aisle aircraft capable of serving multiple route types.
In the widebody segment, both the A330neo and A350 programs have demonstrated steady momentum. A reasonably high level of test flights has been reported, suggesting further confidence in analyst’s predictions.
Notable Commercial Achievements
Recently, Ethiopian Airlines became the first African carrier to operate the advanced A350-1000, in a historic first for both Africa and the airline. The recent delivery marked the first of four aircraft to be delivered to the Ethiopian national carrier.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s new start-up airline Riyadh Air placed a new bulk order for 60 A321neo Family aircraft. This single-aisle order supplements the new premium airline’s 2023 purchase of widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
Closing out October, Spanish flag carrier Iberia made history by becoming the launch operator of the Airbus A321XLR, the world’s newest single-aisle aircraft.
Additionally, Chinese airlines have maintained strong order momentum, showcasing resilient demand despite complex geopolitical dynamics.
Market Outlook
Overall, industry analysts anticipate a continued period of sustained strong demand for Airbus commercial aircraft. This is driven primarily by airlines’ increasing focus on fleet modernization and sustainability initiatives.
The growing air travel demand in emerging markets continues to create new opportunities. Meanwhile, the trend of rising operational costs across the industry further reinforces the need for fuel-efficient aircraft.
With over 200 aircraft still scheduled for delivery in the part of 2024, Airbus’ production will be closely watched this month to assess progress.
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