Flight International 09Mar2020

DATA VIEW

26 | Flight International | 3-9 March 2020 flightglobal.com

New decade’s first month brought a net 274 orders, with European airframer attracting all

reported business and narrowbodies dominating, although deliveries hit a 13-month low

January spree

lifts Airbus spirits

GRAHAM DUNN & ANTOINE FAFARD
LONDON

A

irbus made a strong start to 2020,
accounting for all of the new com-
mercial aircraft orders recorded
during January. Boeing secured no
fresh business, highlighting the continuation
of its struggle with returning the grounded
737 Max to operational use.
Some 296 aircraft were ordered in the first
month of the new decade, which, once offset
against cancellations totalling 22 units, result-
ed in a net figure of 274. A further 38 aircraft
were the subject of variant swaps.
After a previous peak of activity in October
2019 – when a net 355 airliners were ordered

• January’s performance ranked it as the sec-
  ond-highest month for sales within our 13-
  month review period.
  Narrowbody commitments were responsi-
  ble for all but nine of the net orders added,
  with one lessor and a US budget carrier domi-
  nating business.
  Air Lease firmed an order for 50
  A220-300s, along with 27 A321XLRs and 25
  A321neos, while Spirit Airlines signed for
  100 single-aisles: 47 A319neos, 33 A320neos
  and 20 A321neos. Both of these packages had
  originally been disclosed by Airbus last year.
  Cirium fleets data shows that Air Lease is
  the eighth-largest lessor in the world, with
  just over 350 in-service aircraft. However, its
  inventory will be boosted once the 737 Max
  has secured re-certification via the US Federal
  Aviation Administration.
  Additional business secured from lessors
  during January saw China Aircraft Leasing
  order 40 A321neos, and BOC Aviation sign
  for 20 A320neos.
  Further narrowbody success came from
  Cebu Pacific, which signed for 10 A321XLRs
  and five A320neos. And Air Senegal firmed
  up an eight-unit commitment for the
  A220-300, following a memorandum of
  understanding signed at the Dubai air show
  last November. Cirium shows that the African

carrier currently operates two examples each

of the A330-900, A319 and ATR 72-600

twin-turboprop.

In the widebody sector, Air France placed

an order for 10 A350-900s, with these to be

used to replace the flag carrier’s A380 fleet,

AirTeamImages

which is due to be phased out by 2022. Air

Lease also signed for a single example of the

big-twin model.

Cirium shows that the commercial aircraft

order backlog stood at 14,748 units at the

end of January. Airbus accounts for 7,454

(51%) of this total, with 5,528 (37%) being

for Boeing types.

January’s delivery total of 56 commercial

aircraft marked a 36-unit reduction versus the

same month a year earlier, and was the lowest

figure recorded in our review period.

Airbus shipped 26 A320-family aircraft

and two A220s during the month, along with

three widebodies: two A350s and an

A330neo. Boeing delivered 10 commercial

aircraft, among them six 787s for customers

including Etihad Airways, Japan Airlines,

Turkish Airlines and United Airlines, along

with two 737s to China Eastern Airlines, and

one 777 each to Turkish and United.

Other notable deliveries in January includ-

ed Aeroflot’s receipt of five Sukhoi Superjet

100 regional jets. ■

Budget carrier signed

for a total of 100 Neos

New orders, January 2020

Air Lease A220-300 50

Spirit Airlines A319neo 47

China Aircraft Leasing A321neo 40

Spirit Airlines A320neo 33

Air Lease A321XLR 27

Air Lease A321neo 25

BOC Aviation A320neo 20

Spirit Airlines A321neo 20

Cebu Pacific A321XLR 10

Air France A350-900 10

Air Senegal A220-300 8

Cebu Pacific A320neo 5

Air Lease A350-900 1

Note: Information for known customers Source: Cirium fleets data