It’s show time in Paris, and there’s a lot of news about the commercial aircraft market coming out each day. Here’s a quick recap of the major orders and news involving Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, and ATR announced at the show so far. I’m updating it each day with the new announcements as they come in.
Boeing
Boeing released its new 2023 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO) at the show. It projects global demand for 42,595 new commercial jets by 2042, valued at $8 trillion. It expects passenger traffic to outpace global economic growth of 2.6 percent, with the global airliner fleet nearly doubling to 48,600 jets, expanding at 3.5 percent per year. Airlines will replace about half of the global fleet with new, more fuel-efficient models. Link.
China Airlines firmed up an order for eight more 787-9 widebodies. It follows the airline’s first-ever order for 16 787-9s announced last year. Link.
Leasing company Avolon ordered 40 737 MAX jets, and Air Algérie confirmed an order for eight 737-9s. The Algerian flag carrier also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF). Link.
Air India finalized an order for up to 290 new Boeing jets and expanded services. The order covers 190 737 MAX jets, 20 787 Dreamliners and 10 777X jets, with options for 50 737 MAXs and 20 787 Dreamliners. This is Boeing’s largest order yet in South Asia. Link.
India’s Akasa Air ordered four more 737-8 jets. The airline, which launched operations in 2022 with its first 737-8, has rapidly grown its market share and fleet to 19 airplanes across 16 destinations to support a fast-growing local air travel market. With this new order, Akasa’s order book includes 76 jets – 23 737-8s and 53 high-capacity 737-8-200 airplanes. Link.
Air Lease Corporation purchased two more 787s. ALC has been a long-standing 787 customer, placing its first purchase for the 787-9 in 2010. Its airplane portfolio also includes the 787-10. The 787-9 can fly 296 passengers up to 7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km) in a typical two-class configuration. Link.
Luxembourg’s Luxair ordered four 737-7s as it grows its single-aisle fleet. It will be the European launch customer for the smallest MAX model. Since March 2023, Luxair has placed orders for four of the larger 737-8 jets. Luxair will also initially lease two 737-8s, due summer 2023, before taking direct delivery of its first 737-8. Link.
Airbus
IndiGo ordered 500 A320 family aircraft, the biggest single order in the history of commercial aviation. The carrier is India’s largest airline by market share, and the new order brings the total number of A320 family aircraft ordered by IndiGo to 1,330. Link.
Besides placing a big order with Boeing, Air India also ordered 250 Airbus jets at the show. The new agreement includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo narrowbody jets plus 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 widebody jets. The airline signed a letter of intent to acquire these aircraft back in February.
Qantas Group finalized an order for nine more A220-300s, taking its total orders for the single-aisle aircraft to 29. The new order follows Qantas’ selection of the A220-300 for a major fleet replacement program in May 2022, a program that also placed orders for the A321XLR and A350-1000. Qantas will take delivery of its first A220 by the end of 2023. Link.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) signed a firm order for nine A350-1000s. PAL plans to use the aircraft to fly ultra-long nonstop routes from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. Two A350-900s are already in service with the airline. Link.
Saudi Arabian low-cost airline flynas firmed up an order for 30 new A320neo family jets, taking the airline’s total order with Airbus to 120 A320neo aircraft, including 10 A321XLRs. Link.
Air Mauritius confirmed an order for three more A350 family aircraft. The airline already operates four A350 and four A330 widebodies. It will use the newly ordered A350s to expand European and South Asian routes. Link.
Bulgaria Air has taken delivery of its first A220. The flag carrier of Bulgaria leased the aircraft from Air Lease Corporation (ALC). It will use the aircraft on both regional and international routes across Europe. It plans to lease a total of five A220-300s and two A220-100s from ALC. Link.
Avolon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering a new order for 20 A330neo aircraft. Including owned, managed and committed aircraft, the lessor currently has a total fleet of 616 Airbus aircraft. Link.
Mexican low-cost airline Volaris disclosed it ordered 25 A321neo jets in October 2022. These aircraft bring Volaris’ total backlog to 143 A320neo family aircraft, which will support the airline’s continuous fleet renewal and expansion. The aircraft are powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines. Link.
Embraer
Avolon signed a sale and leaseback agreement with Porter Airlines covering 10 new E-195-E2 regional jets with a list price of $841.2 million. Porter will use the new aircraft to expand routes within Canada and further into the North American market. Link.
Embraer revealed that the undisclosed customer that ordered 15 E195-E2 aircraft in January 2023 is the leasing firm Azorra. The order is valued at $1.2 billion at list prices. Link.
American Airlines ordered seven new E175s for operation by the airline’s wholly owned subsidiary, Envoy Air. Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of 2023. Envoy’s fleet of E-Jets will grow to over 141 aircraft by the end of 2024. The value of the new order is $403.4 million at list prices. Link.
Binter, an airline located in the Canary Islands, ordered six E195-E2s configured in a single-class layout with 132 seats. The new order will take Binter’s E2 jet fleet to 16 aircraft when delivered. The deal is valued at $504.7 million. Deliveries will begin in the second half of 2024. Link.
Embraer signed a letter of agreement with Lanzhou Aviation Industry Development Group covering passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions of 20 E190F and E195F regional jets. The two companies will cooperate on establishing E190F and E195F conversion capability in China. Lanzhou Group will be the launch customer for Embraer’s P2F conversion in China, and the future base in China for Embraer’s P2F conversions. Link.
Embraer will collaborate with GKN Aerospace on developing hydrogen fuel cell technology. The new team will also explore the potential for a hydrogen flight demonstrator. Link.
ATR
Mandarin Airlines ordered six more ATR 72-600s for delivery in 2023-2025. The airline is the regional subsidiary of Taiwan flag carrier China Airlines. Mandarin’s fleet currently includes nine ATR 72-600s. Link.
Malaysia’s Berjaya Air signed an agreement covering two ATR 72-600s configured in an “All-Business Class” cabin. ATR added the new layout in its new HighLine premium collection of cabin interiors. Berjaya’s cabin will offer two seats in each row in place of the typical four-abreast configuration, with each seat equipped with individual outboard side stowage. ATR will deliver the aircraft in 2025-2026. Link
ATR also reported a new deal with Azul covering three firm orders and two options for ATR 72-600s. It also secured orders for eight ATR 72-600s and three ATR 42-600s from unidentified customers.
A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Douglas Royce is currently co-editor of four of Forecast International's Market Intelligence Services: Civil Aircraft Forecast, Military Aircraft Forecast, Rotorcraft Forecast, and Aviation Gas Turbine Forecast. As such, he plays a key role in many important projects that involve market sizing and forecasting for various segments of the world aerospace industry, as well as demand for related systems.
