European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has significantly widened its delivery lead as its rival Boeing cautiously recovers from prolonged internal challenges.
Airbus announced on Thursday that it delivered 766 commercial aircraft in 2024, expecting to maintain its position as the industry leader for the sixth consecutive year.
While Boeing has yet to release its annual data, the gap between the two manufacturers’ deliveries in 2024 has already widened substantially. This comes after a mid-air blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines jet a year ago, which prompted Boeing to adopt a more cautious approach to increasing production amid increased regulatory scrutiny.
Airbus reported 878 orders (826 net), excluding cancellations, which is 61% below its record-breaking performance in 2023.
Boeing, in contrast, reported 370 net orders, excluding cancellations, by the end of November.
Despite these figures, industry analysts note that both manufacturers compete aggressively for new orders.
Airbus is expected to claim victory, albeit with a margin of error, as the global supply chain struggles with parts and labor shortages.
The provisional tally of 766 Airbus deliveries reflected a slowdown in the industry’s post-pandemic recovery. The annual growth rate dropped to 4%, less than half of last year’s 11% increase.
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