2014 was a close match between Airbus and Boeing for orders, a mere 24 units to be precise. Airbus led by a short head over their US rival with 1,456 net orders recorded last year. Amongst the best-sellers: the Boeing 737 family of aircraft, and that of the Airbus A320, which alone accounted for 77% and 91%, respectively, of last year’s sales.
On the deliveries side however, the advantage went to Boeing. In 2014, the American airframer delivered 723 units, nearly 100 more than Airbus. With its ramp-up in production, Boeing set a new world record, although Airbus does not intend to be outdistanced.
Fabrice Brégier, Chief Executive Officer - Airbus:
"The difference is in the fact that the B787 is now, largely, in full-scale production, whereas we have only just delivered the first A350. In 2018, we will have over 100 A350 deliveries extra, and we will then have, what I think should amount to those of market leader quantities."
Over and above this tit-for-tat over figures, the two major commercial aircraft manufacturers can still smile. The order books have never been so full, with the equivalent of eight years’ production for Boeing, nine for Airbus; aside from which, since 1st January, the European manufacturers have also increased their aircraft list prices by just over 3%.
Enough to give both sides some degree of serenity, even though some challenges remain to be addressed in 2015 – those of carrying out the first flight of the Boeing 737 MAX, and delivering the first Airbus A320neo production unit.