Airbus, the renowned European plane maker, achieved a noteworthy milestone by delivering 735 commercial aircraft to customers last year, surpassing its initial target of 720. This accomplishment was propelled by robust orders for both narrow-body and wide-body planes as airlines rushed to meet the surging demand for air travel.
Strong Delivery Numbers
In 2023, Airbus successfully delivered 68 of its A220 planes, along with 571 A320s – both belonging to the narrow-body aircraft category. Additionally, the company provided customers with 32 A330s and 64 A350s, its wide-body models.
Overcoming Supply-Chain Challenges
By November, Airbus had already delivered 623 aircraft. However, the remaining 112 were delivered in December alone, highlighting a remarkable surge in production. Initially aiming for 720 deliveries in 2022, the company was compelled to revise its target due to supply-chain disruptions.
In 2022, Airbus fell short of its downgraded goal of approximately 700 deliveries, managing to hand over a total of 661 aircraft. Prolonged supply-chain challenges have plagued the aviation industry, making it increasingly difficult to source necessary spare parts and raw materials.
Successful Endeavors Amidst Demand
Airbus attributed their achievement to a combination of factors. Notably, the enhanced flexibility and capability of their global industrial system played a crucial role. Furthermore, the strong demand from airlines to renew their fleets with modern and fuel-efficient aircraft significantly contributed to Airbus’ success.
“A number of factors came together to help us achieve our goals, including the increased flexibility and capability of our global industrial system, as well as the strong demand from airlines to refresh their fleets with our most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft,” stated Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury.
Airbus Expects Increased Production of A320, A330, and A350 Models
Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer, has announced its plans for increased production in the coming years. By 2026, the company expects to produce 75 of its A320 narrow-body aircraft per month. Additionally, Airbus aims to manufacture four A330 wide-body planes per month by 2024. Furthermore, production of its larger A350 model is projected to reach 10 aircraft per month by 2026, surpassing the previous target of nine by the end of 2025.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbus was forced to reduce production of its wide-body planes due to travel restrictions and border closures. However, with international traffic gradually recovering and airlines experiencing a surge in demand, there is now a pressing need for more planes to expand capacity.
Emirates Airline, for instance, recently placed an order for 15 Airbus A350-900 jets valued at $6 billion at the Dubai Airshow. These aircraft will be utilized for flights lasting up to 15 hours departing from Dubai.
Christian Scherer, the chief executive of Airbus’s core commercial aircraft business, expressed surprise at the swift recovery of both the single-aisle and wide-body markets. Initially, aviation experts expected a recovery between 2023 and 2025. However, the rebound has been stronger than anticipated.
In 2020, Airbus recorded a total of 2,319 gross new orders, with a net total of 2,094 orders. As of December, the company’s backlog included 8,598 aircraft.