24 | Flight International | 10-16 April 2018 flightglobal.com

DATA VIEW

Steady month saw Emirates cement its position as the A380’s largest customer, while

Hawaiian left the A330-800neo high and dry after switching its order to rival 787-9

Demand springs

back for carriers

GRAHAM DUNN & ANTOINE FAFARD
LONDON

A

fter what was a slow start to 2018
for commercial orders, prelimi-
nary information from Flight
Fleets Analyzer shows that 67
aircraft were added to production backlogs
during February, balanced against 12 cancel-
lations and seven swaps.
Most notably, Emirates Airline confirmed
an order for 20 Airbus A380s, in what was
the first firm commitment for the widebody
type to be made in more than a year. The
Gulf carrier – which is by some distance the
largest customer for the superjumbo – had in
January signed a preliminary deal for 20
examples, plus 16 options.
Boeing’s 747-8 programme also received a
boost, with UPS Airlines ordering 14 Freight-
ers, along with a further four 767-300Fs to
support its operations. An undisclosed
customer also placed an order for three 777s.
This activity meant February was the
second busiest month of the previous 12 for
widebody deals, and also one of the highest-
profile due to cancellations. Virgin Atlantic
finally dropped its long-dormant order for six
A380s – a commitment dating back to 2001,
while the sole customer for the A330neo’s
-800 model, Hawaiian Airlines, axed its
six-unit order, after signing a letter of intent to
instead acquire 787-9s.
In the narrowbody sector, orders were
confirmed for 20 re-engined A320neos from
as-yet unannounced customers, while TUI

Boeing

TUI Travel made a commitment

for two 737 Max-series aircraft

Travel signed for two 737 Max-series aircraft.

New business for regional aircraft manufac-

turers included a follow-on order from

Bangkok Airways for four ATR 72-600s, in

what was one of the few commercial deals dis-

closed during February’s Singapore air show.

Fleets Analyzer records the overall com-

mercial order backlog as totalling 15,172

aircraft at the end of February: down 40 from

the previous month.

Meanwhile, our information shows that 97

aircraft were delivered to 60 operators during

the month – an 18% decrease versus

February 2017. This extends a sluggish

period, following an exceptionally busy con-

clusion seen last December.

European carriers led the way with deliver-

ies, receiving a combined 32 units. This was

followed by totals of 29 and 25, respectively,

for operators in the Asia-Pacific and North

America regions. Almost half of the global

deliveries were made to mainline operators.

In the widebody sector, Air Canada,

Norwegian and United Airlines each took two

787s, while freight operator FedEx received a

pair of 767s.

Narrowbody deliveries included eight

737NGs for Ryanair, which has a backlog of

35 of the legacy model and 110 737 Max

200s. Delta Air Lines took four A321s and two

737-900s, while Southwest Airlines received

four 737-800s.

Shipments made to regional operators

comprised a pair of ATR 72 twin-turboprops

for Mexico’s Aeromar Airlines, plus an

Embraer 175 and an E190 that were received

by KLM Cityhopper.

Fleets Analyzer shows that the global in-

service commercial fleet stood at slightly

more than 28,600 units at the end of Febru-

ary, of which more than 26,000 are deployed

in a passenger role. The remainder includes

freighters and combi types. ■

New orders, February 2018

Emirates Airline A380 20

UPS Airlines 747-8F 14

Bangkok Airways ATR 72-600 4

UPS Airlines 767-300F 4

TUI Travel 737 Max 2

Source: Flight Fleets Analyzer

Note: Information for known customers only

Emirates firmed an order

for 20 A380s, in what was

the first firm commitment

for the widebody type in

more than a year