Boeing opened the order process on Monday on the first day of the Farnborough Air Show (United Kingdom), where the challenge for aircraft manufacturers remains to increase their production to meet the immense demand for aircraft.
The Seattle giant made a big splash by signing an order with Korean Air in front of the media for 20 777-9 wide-body aircraft, which still needs to be certified, and 20 787-10 Dreamliners.
The contract, which has yet to be finalized, also includes an option for 10 additional 787 planes and is worth more than $15 billion at list prices — a rare occurrence.
The airline’s president Walter Cho said he expects the first delivery in 2028 and hopes it will take place “on time”, even if he has “full confidence” in the American group: the Boeing 777-9, one of the two versions of the future 777X capable of carrying up to 426 passengers, has just started its certification flights.
This will take place at the earliest in 2025, five years late.
Boeing also took advantage of the show to formalize the purchase, announced in March, by Japan Air Lines of 10 Dreamliner 787-9s, as well as options for ten additional aircraft, worth nearly $3 billion at list prices.
Also in its order book is an order from Luxembourg-based Luxair for two 737 MAX-10s, a version of Boeing’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft that has not yet been certified, as well as four 777 cargo wide-body aircraft for US-based National Airlines.
The group intends to take advantage of the growth of global online commerce. “The largest shopping mall in the world is on your phone today,” observed its chairman Christopher Alf.
Every day, shipments of products ordered online worldwide represent more than 10,000 tonnes, equivalent to the transport capacity of 100 Boeing 777 cargo planes.
Airbus has been more discreet for the time being, announcing in a press release a memorandum of understanding with the Bhutanese airline Drukair for the purchase of two A320s and two A321 XLRs, the very long-range version of the single-aisle aircraft that has just been certified. Deliveries will begin in 2030.
In the military field, the Brazilian Embraer announced the joint purchase by the Netherlands and Austria of nine C-390 transport aircraft.
“Incredibly well-filled” notebook
Despite the prospect of a doubling of global air traffic and the need for new aircraft over the next 20 years, for aircraft manufacturers, the main focus lies elsewhere.
Both are struggling to resolve production issues to deliver their huge order books, which total nearly 15,000 aircraft, up 18% year-on-year.
It’s “incredibly full, we sold everything through the end of the decade,” observed Boeing Commercial Aircraft CEO Stephanie Pope.
Boeing has been embroiled for months in production and quality problems on its three commercial planes, the 737, 787 and 777, which have led to several investigations, and is awaiting the appointment of a new boss to replace Dave Calhoun.
The leader is due to step down by the end of the year, paying the price for a series of crises that culminated in the loss of a door stopper on a plane in mid-flight in January.
“We want to deliver safe, quality aircraft, predictably and on time,” insists Stephanie Pope, who speaks of a “transformational change” within the group. Even if it means reducing production for the necessary time before increasing the rate.
As a symbol of Boeing’s current priorities, the American aircraft manufacturer is not exhibiting any commercial aircraft at Farnborough.
Airbus, which dominates the heart of the market with its single-aisle A320 family aircraft, is for its part engaged in an ambitious increase in its production.
But its deliveries are falling behind schedule, due to the difficulties of the supply chain to ramp up after being weakened by the pandemic, rising interest rates, shortages and difficulties in recruiting.
“Our first priority is to manage the ramp-up despite all these difficulties,” insisted Airbus President Guillaume Faury.
The European aircraft manufacturer has lowered its delivery target this year to 770 aircraft, down from 800 initially planned. It has also pushed back by one year, to 2027, its target of producing 75 A320 family aircraft per month. It has delivered just under 44 per month since the start of the year.