Airbus and Boeing announced the report for March, which completed the first quarter results.
The giant aerospace companies have a duopoly in commercial aviation. They are always compared with each other. Both published the final March results yesterday. The first quarter went well for them.
Boeing Quarter Report
Boeing has surpassed Airbus by delivering 130 jets during the first quarter of 2023, compared to Airbus’ 127.
This marks the first time since 2018 that Boeing has outperformed its European rival. This achievement signifies a positive turn of events for Boeing, as aircraft production has returned to normalcy following several years of disruption.
The first quarter deliveries of 2023 increased by almost 27% compared to the previous year, in which only 95 aircraft were delivered.
In March 2023, Boeing delivered 64 aircraft, with 53 being Boeing 737 MAX. This is an improvement from March 2022, when only 41 aircraft were produced. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines each received 12 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in March.
Moreover, Boeing received 60 new aircraft orders in March, with only 22 cancellations. Most deliveries comprised the Boeing 737 family, with 113 out of the 130 737 family aircraft. Boeing’s Seattle Everton factory is expected to produce 31 737 jets monthly.
Despite experiencing a slowdown in January and February due to a pause in the delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing was still able to deliver 11 Dreamliners.
Boeing resumed its deliveries in the middle of March and delivered 7 Dreamliners that month. In addition to these, Boeing also delivered one 747 aircraft, one 767 freighter aircraft to Federal Express (FX), and four 777s.
Airbus A220-300 at Farnborough Airshow. Photo: © Jakob Wert
Airbus Quarter Report
During the first quarter of 2023, Airbus delivered 127 aircraft, marking a 9% decline compared to the same period in 2022. The reduction in Airbus deliveries was partly attributed to engine shortages for its short-haul Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
However, Airbus plans to increase production at its Tianjin, China assembly facility from four aircraft per month to six after renovating it to manufacture the A321 aircraft.
Airbus received more orders than Boeing, with 142 orders after cancellations, as opposed to Boeing’s 38 demands. Boeing’s order book included 40 charges of 737 MAX aircraft and 20 787 aircraft.
Boeing experienced some cancellations, including 16 MAXs and six 787 aircraft. Nevertheless, it succeeded in selling its first 737 MAX aircraft to Japan Airlines in late March, beating out Airbus with its Airbus A320neo aircraft bid.
Japan Airlines (JL) announced its intention to purchase 21 737 MAX aircraft, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. In the past two months, Boeing has received commitments for over 200 787 Dreamliners from Air India & Riyadh Air.
Bottom Line
Airbus plans to deliver 720 jets in 2023, while Boeing plans to have 400 737 MAX jets and 70 787s.
Although Boeing is on track to exceed its 737 MAX delivery goal, it will need to increase production of the 787 Dreamliner to deliver 70 aircraft. This represents an increase from the 480 planes born in 2021.
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