Airbus an Boeing started off the year with high hopes for delivering 800 or more aircraft each this year. In January Boeing reported it expected to deliver 810-815 commercial aircraft during the year (including militarized variants of commercial jets). In February Airbus announced it expected to deliver ~800 commercial jets this year (including militarized variants of commercial jets), but at the same time emphasized that it depends on engine manufacturers meeting commitments.
Since then the supply chain has grown wobblier. Questions are growing louder as to whether the OEMs can reach their targets. The engine makers are under tremendous pressure. Earlier in the year, Airbus had a lot of “gliders” waiting for engines. This has eased but recently there were again rumbles on the A330neo program because of Rolls-Royce delays, and then there were problems in Hamburg getting the best-selling A321neo delivered. Boeing has sounded more confident even as it had its own “glider” issues.
What did the delivery picture look at the end of the 3Q?
While Airbus does face more pressure than Boeing, both OEMs are under the gun to meet their targets. Fortunately for Airbus, it has four FALs for the single-aisle family. If they get the parts on time, they might squeak through like last year. Like Airbus, for Boeing, the big volume in deliveries are single-aisle. Boeing has one FAL doing this and that plant seems to deliver miraculous productivity.
Both firms will be announcing their latest monthly numbers within the next ten days. The pressure is on and building.
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