Airframers: Boeing mid-market type by 2019; Airbus deliveries solid

Airbus and Boeing have both gone through major changes during the past year. Airbus has taken a stake in the Bombardier CSeries, changed the aircraft's name to the A220 and given the programme a shot in the arm with its sales heft and support. In response, Boeing is pursuing a tie-up with Embraer and remains optimistic that the proposed JV will come to fruition.

Boeing is also signalling that it will render a decision regarding a clean-sheet middle of the market aircraft in early 2019 as work continues to establish a business case for a new aircraft programme.

Even as Airbus and Boeing each take steps to ensure that their product portfolios encompass smaller narrowbodies, the trend towards aircraft upgauging continues. Airbus is forecasting solid growth in the number of deliveries of narrowbodies with more than 180 seats over the next few years.