Contributor - Europe

Cathy Buyck

Thanks to a bumper December, Airbus beat its full-year 2021 target of 600 commercial aircraft deliveries as it handed over 611 jets to customers. The European OEMs managed to ship 93 aircraft in December, the highest number of any month in 2021, according to its orders and deliveries overview released on Monday. The total of 611 commercial deliveries marks a welcome improvement over 2020 when it handed over just 566 jets to customers as the Covid-19 pandemic forced airlines to scale back operations. Still, the 2021 delivery tally remains well below the total for 2019, when Airbus achieved a new record with 863 commercial aircraft deliveries to 99 customers.

 


Last year’s deliveries consisted of five A380s, including the last-ever to Emirates Airline on December 16, 55 A350s, 18 A330s, 483 A320-family jets, and 50 A220s.

 


With a 30 percent share, Asia-Pacific led all other regions in terms of 2021 deliveries despite the slow traffic recovery there. Europe and North America accounted for 17 and 16 percent shares of Airbus aircraft deliveries last year, respectively, while lessors took 29 percent of deliveries.

 


Airbus’s orders also improved in 2021 compared with the previous year. The OEM doubled its gross order intake compared with 2020 levels with 771 new sales, though after cancellations the net order tally totaled 507—up from 268 in 2020.&nbsp;In the widebody segment, Airbus collected gross orders for 46 airplanes—30 A330s and 16 A350s, 11 of which were for the newly launched A350F.&nbsp;The A220 won gross firm orders for 64 units and the A320neo family saw gross orders for 661.

 


Sales of Airbus’s smallest narrowbody received another boost Monday with an order for 22 A220s from Azorra. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based aircraft lessor’s purchase agreement covers A220-300s and two ACJ TwoTwenty business jets. &nbsp;“The addition of Azorra’s capabilities in the regional airline segment is a welcome endorsement for the A220 versatility,” commented Airbus chief commercial officer Christian Scherer. As of the end of December 2021, the A220 had accumulated orders for 668 airplanes from 25 customers.

 


The “significant” number of orders from airlines worldwide last year signals “confidence in the sustainable growth of air travel post-Covid,” asserted Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury. “Our commercial aircraft achievements in 2021 reflect the focus and resilience of our Airbus teams, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders across the globe who pulled together to deliver remarkable results,” he said. “While uncertainties remain, we are on track to lift production through 2022 to meet our customers’ requirements.”

 


Boeing expects to disclose 2021 orders and deliveries data on Tuesday. The U.S. aircraft manufacturer sent just 302 jets to customers during the first 11 months of the year, leaving it well behind its European rival.&nbsp;

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Airbus Beats Full-year Target for Commercial Aircraft Deliveries 

The European airframer handed over 611 aircraft to customers in 2021, which marks an 8 percent improvement over pandemic-hit 2020.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Inventory fell by nearly a third year over year as resale transactions hit Q2 record

Asking Prices Disappear from ULR Bizjets, Says Jet Match

Kerry Lynch

Trump calls for a ban on Bombardier products

Amid Trade War, Trump Takes Aim at Bombardier Once More

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

More In Aircraft