Record global aircraft deliveries in 2017: Boeing ahead of Airbus again, but behind on order backlog
The world's fleet of commercial aircraft grew its numbers by 4% in 2017, to end the year at more than 31,000 for the first time. The number of aircraft on order was more than half of this number, and the order backlog was almost 10 years - the highest at any time in the jet age.
Both of the leading aircraft manufacturers delivered a record number of aircraft in 2017, while Boeing beat its rival Airbus for the sixth successive year. The nine-year winning streak enjoyed by Airbus, which ended in 2011, seems like a long time ago now (although Airbus is closing the gap).
However, although Boeing also received more orders than Airbus in 2017 and had more aircraft in service, the European producer has a larger backlog of outstanding firm orders. Airbus' order book superiority is based on higher numbers of narrowbody orders, whereas Boeing leads on widebody orders.
Summary
- 2017 was another record year for commercial aircraft deliveries. The order backlog is equivalent to almost 10 years of production.
- Boeing delivered more aircraft than Airbus for the sixth straight year in 2017, and looks set to repeat this in 2018.
- Boeing also beat Airbus on orders received in 2017, but Airbus has a bigger backlog, thanks to the A320neo family.
- The commercial aerospace sector is in good health, but is going through structural change in 2018
2017 was another record year for commercial aircraft deliveries
According to the CAPA Fleet Database, the total number of commercial aircraft delivered in 2017 reached another record high.
The database recorded 1,740 deliveries in 2017, which was 1.5% more than the 1,714 aircraft delivered in 2016. This was the seventh consecutive year of rising delivery numbers.
The last fall in annual deliveries was in 2010, when they fell by 3.2%, to 1,269. From 2010 to 2017 annual deliveries grew overall by 37%, and at a compound average annual rate of 4.6% pa (although growth has not exceeded 2% in any of the past three years).
Global commercial aircraft annual deliveries, by region: 2008 to 2017
The order backlog is equivalent to almost 10 years of production
The CAPA Fleet Database records 31,600 commercial aircraft in service at the end of 2017, an increase of 4.1% versus 2016.
The number of outstanding firm orders at the end of 2017 was 17,018. The order backlog was nearly 54% of the number of aircraft in service at the end of 2017 (versus 51% at the end of 2016).
Expressed as the number of years of production, the order backlog increased from 9.0 years at the end of 2016 to 9.8 years at the end of 2017 - a record high for the jet era.
Commercial aircraft in service and on order at year end 2016 and 2017
Boeing delivered more than Airbus for the sixth straight year in 2017…
The past year was the first time that both Boeing and Airbus delivered more than 700 aircraft in the same year, but the US manufacturer outsold its European rival for the sixth successive year.
Boeing's 763 deliveries in 2017 beat Airbus' 718 by 6%, although the gap is closing relative to 9% in 2016 and 20% in 2015 (according to data from the manufacturers).
Airbus last delivered more than Boeing in 2011, which had been its ninth year in a row of beating its rival.
For Boeing, its 2017 total was a return to growth, after its 2016 figure of 748 had dipped versus 762 in 2015. For both manufacturers, 2017 was a record year for deliveries.
Airbus and Boeing annual aircraft deliveries: 1996 to 2017
…and looks set to repeat this in 2018
Current data in the CAPA Fleet Database indicate that both Airbus and Boeing will enjoy double-digit growth in delivery numbers in 2018, but Boeing will again come out on top.
The database shows 857 deliveries for Boeing and 848 for Airbus this year, giving the US airframer a lead of only 1%.
Typically, the annual delivery numbers projected at the start of the year turn out to be higher than the actual tally of deliveries reported at the end of that year, due to minor production delays (particularly on newer aircraft programmes), rescheduling, and the occasional market exit by airlines.
Nevertheless, 2018 looks set to provide Boeing with a seventh successive winning year for deliveries.
Airbus and Boeing aircraft projected deliveries: 2018*
Boeing also beat Airbus on orders received in 2017…
Boeing also comfortably beat Airbus on the number of orders received in 2017, with 912 versus 776. These figures are both significantly lower than at the peak in 2014, when they each achieved more than 1,500 orders.
Nevertheless, both Boeing and Airbus had a record order backlog at the end of 2017.
Airbus and Boeing: net orders received in 2017
…but Airbus is dominating narrowbody orders
According to the CAPA Fleet Database, Airbus had almost 7,500 outstanding firm orders, giving it a 13% lead over Boeing's order book total of just on the other side of 6,600.
Expressed as the number of years of production, Airbus' order backlog was 10.4 years and Boeing's was 8.7 years at the end of 2017.
Airbus' superior backlog is built on its narrowbody aircraft, for which it has more than 6,300 orders. This is 21% more than Boeing's 5,200 narrowbody orders, but as noted, Airbus trails Boeing by 17% in widebody orders (1,150 versus close to 1,400).
In the battle between new-generation narrowbodies, Airbus A320neo family has 5,900 orders, compared with 4,700 for Boeing 737MAX variants.
Airbus and Boeing: aircraft in service and on order at year end 2017
Boeing has more aircraft in service than Airbus
Due to its longer history, Boeing still has a larger number of aircraft in service, with more than 11,500 at the end of 2017 (not counting 608 McDonnell Douglas aircraft), compared with Airbus aircraft in service, of the order of more than 9,300 units.
Airbus trails Boeing more significantly in widebodies in service than it does in narrowbodies - Airbus has almost 2,100 widebodies in operation, 37% fewer than Boeing's 3,300, versus its 7,200 narrowbodies in service, a deficit of 12% compared with 8,200 for Boeing.
The commercial aerospace sector in good health, but going through structural change in 2018
After seven consecutive years of rising deliveries, the commercial aerospace sector is enjoying the good times, buoyed by strong airline profitability. Perhaps emboldened by this, the sector could effect significant change in 2018.
Airbus has already taken control of Bombardier's CSeries programme, and this is likely to take priority over the A319neo (while the A321neo goes from strength to strength). A tie-up between Boeing and Embraer could lead to further changes in the structure of this end of the market.
In the widebody segment, the A380, which is Airbus' most high profile aircraft programme, faces an uncertain future, Boeing has the upper hand. Airbus is likely to wait for Boeing to launch its new mid-market aircraft before deciding what to do next in the widebody area.
The bull run of delivery growth has endured, but growth in annual deliveries has been slow in each of the past three years. Although airline margins are at record high levels, there are signs that they may not rise further.
At the moment there is no reason to foresee a major downturn in the near term, but maintaining the existing good health of both airlines and manufacturers will be a positive outcome for 2018.