On April 9, both Airbus and Boeing announced their March deliveries of commercial aircraft on the same day. Airbus delivered more than twice as many planes as Boeing in the past March, with 63 aircraft delivered, compared to 29 by rival Boeing, according to the data.
In the first quarter, Airbus deliveries reached 142, compared to Boeing's 83, which is 59 more than Boeing. According to industry estimates, if Boeing's current state of affairs continues, its production may be only one-third of that of Airbus by the end of 2024.
Compared to the first quarter of 2023, Airbus delivered 15 more aircraft. Deliveries of the A320neo family of aircraft increased by 10 aircraft year-over-year, while year-over-year deliveries of the A220 and A350 jets increased by two aircraft, while the A330 increased by one aircraft. Throughout the first quarter, Airbus delivered 28 A321neo, 23 A320neo, three A330-900, three A350-900, three A220-300, two A350-1000 and one A220-100.
An Airbus spokesperson announced that its deliveries in 2024 will increase by at least 12% to nearly 900 aircraft, meaning that Airbus will also produce at least 758 aircraft in the remaining nine months, an average of about 85 aircraft per month.
Boeing, on the other hand, is facing an unprecedented safety and quality crisis, and aircraft deliveries in 2024 will fall off a cliff, with the current figures alone already down 36% year-on-year compared to 2023, and if this situation does not improve, its production may even be only about 33% of Airbus's by the end of 2024.
Such a grim situation is undoubtedly a wake-up call for the long-time global aviation manufacturing giant. In the past, Boeing has dominated the market with its strong production capacity and high product quality. However, in recent years, Boeing has faced various problems and challenges, such as the frequent accidents and grounding of the 737 MAX family aircraft, which have seriously affected its production schedule and reputation.
At the same time, Airbus has gradually snatched a lot of market share from Boeing with its efficient production, excellent quality, extensive product line and flexible marketing strategy. All indications are that Boeing has been dragged down by the aging and outdated Boeing 737 family for too long, and some mistakes and laxities in management have led to a significant decline in Boeing's competitiveness in the global aviation market.
It's clear that Boeing is in dire need of a new aircraft to revive its 118-year-old reputation and market position and cope with fierce competition in the market. Is it the much-speculated Boeing 797 or a new "8" series?
Overall, the new aircraft should be safe, fuel-efficient, high-capacity and passenger-friendly to meet market competition and passenger demand.