Airbus Commercial Aircraft in 2018

Continuing record deliveries

Airbus delivered 800 commercial aircraft to 93 customers in 2018, meeting its full year delivery targets and setting a new company record. Deliveries were 11 percent higher than the previous record of 718 units, set in 2017. For the 16th year in succession, Airbus has increased the number of commercial aircraft deliveries on an annual basis. In terms of sales, Airbus received 747 net orders during 2018 compared with 1,109 in 2017. At the end of 2018, the backlog of Airbus commercial aircraft had reached a new industry high and stood at 7,577 aircraft, including 480 A220s, compared with 7,265 at the end of 2017.

Over the last 16 years, Airbus has steadily increased production year-by-year with the final assembly lines in Hamburg, Toulouse, Tianjin and Mobile complemented by the addition of an A220 line in Mirabel, Canada during 2018. A notable contribution to Airbus’ delivery increase in 2018 came from the final assembly lines in the US and China. For the top-selling A320 Family in particular, the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mobile, Alabama, saw its 100th delivery, which is now producing in excess of four units per month. Meanwhile, Airbus’ FAL Asia in Tianjin, China, achieved its 400th A320 delivery, while in Germany Airbus commenced operations of its new, fourth production line in Hamburg. Overall, the A320 Family programme is on track to achieve rate 60 per month by mid-2019. “The Airbus teams successfully reached an important industrial milestone for the A350, achieving the targeted rate of 10 aircraft per month.”

CDB Aviation 100th A320

CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited has taken delivery of its 100th Airbus A320 Family aircraft. The A320neo aircraft, which will be operated by India’s low-cost carrier Go Airlines Ltd. is part of a purchase and leaseback agreement signed with the carrier earlier in 2018. The delivery marks the overall 125th Airbus aircraft to join the lessor’s fleet.

400th A320 assembled in FAL Asia

Airbus has delivered the 400th A320 Family aircraft from its Final Assembly Line Asia (FALA) in Tianjin, China. The A320neo was delivered to national flag carrier Air China based in Beijing. Powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF latest generation engines, the aircraft features a two-class cabin layout with 158 seats: 8 business and 150 economy.

JetBlue Airways order 60 Airbus A220-300s

JetBlue Airways has firmed its order for 60 A220-300 aircraft, the larger model of the new A220 series. JetBlue’s existing Airbus fleet includes 193 A320 and A321ceo aircraft in operation, with an additional 85 A321neo aircraft on order.

Moxy orders 60 Airbus A220-300s

The start-up US airline Moxy has signed a firm order with Airbus to purchase 60 A220-300 aircraft. Moxy is the new airline venture led by David Neeleman, one of the industry’s most innovative entrepreneurs and founder of JetBlue Airways. In addition to JetBlue, Neeleman also founded Azul Brazilian Airlines and is the controlling investor in the revitalisation of TAP Air Portugal.

First ANA A380 in unique livery

The first A380 for All Nippon Airways (ANA) has rolled out of the Airbus paint shop in Hamburg, Germany, bearing the airline’s distinctive and unique Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle livery. ANA has firm orders for three A380s, becoming the first customer for the mega airliner in Japan.

First A330-900 to launch operator TAP Air Portugal

TAP Air Portugal has taken delivery of the first new A330neo the Portuguese carrier to take of a further 20 A330-900s in the coming years. TAP Air Portugal’s first A330-900 is leased from Avolon and features 298 seats in a three-class lay-out with 34 full-flat business class, 96 economy plus and 168 economy class seats.

100th A320 Family aircraft from Mobile

Airbus has delivered its 100th aircraft from the company’s US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, the A320neo delivered to Frontier Airlines. Airbus’ Mobile facility is delivering four A320 Family aircraft per month having delivered to eight US-based customers thus far, including Air Lease Corporation, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines.

SaudiGulf Airlines order 10 more A320neos

Al-Qahtani Aviation, owner of SaudiGulf Airlines, has signed an agreement to purchase ten A320neo family aircraft. SaudiGulf Airlines currently operates a fleet of six A320 aircraft from its hub in Dammam.

Delta Air Lines order 10 additional Airbus A330-900s

Delta Air Lines has ordered 10 additional Airbus A330- 900 widebody aircraft, expanding their A330neo order book from 25 to 35 aircraft. Simultaneously, Delta and Airbus will defer 10 previously ordered A350 XWBs to 2025-26 as part of the airline’s long-term growth strategy. Delta currently operates 11 A350-900 aircraft and expects a further four in 2019-2020. Delta’s A330 fleet today includes 42 widebody aircraft.

Avolon order 100 A320neo Family aircraft

Dublin–headquartered aircraft lessor Avolon has firmed an order for 75 A320neos and 25 A321neos, the single largest order for Airbus aircraft ever placed by Avolon. The agreement takes Avolon’s cumulative orders with Airbus to 284 aircraft (240 single-aisles and 44 wide-body aircraft) including the A321neo, the A330neo and the A350 XWB.