October registers reduced aircraft deliveries
Commercial aircraft deliveries fell 25% in October 2024 compared to October 2023, with the 79 aircraft delivered representing the lowest figure for the month since 2021.
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The latest commercial aircraft data from ADS, the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors further highlights a 40% fall in aircraft orders for the same period, at 145 for the month.
ADS data reflects significantly slowed orders across 2024 as a whole, with year-to-date orders down 54% on the first 10 months of 2023.
Orders continuing to outpace deliveries meant the commercial aircraft order backlog stood at a record high of 15,933 at the end of October 2024.
This represents up to £240 billion of value for the UK and more than a decade’s worth of work.
Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS commented: “October delivery figures have been lower for the sector as efforts to increase production, coincide with an increasingly challenging UK manufacturing environment, characterised by high material, energy, labour and capital costs.
While the sector welcomes the continued government support for aerospace R&D and recognition in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, we need to see increased, intensive cooperation between suppliers, primes and the Government to deliver a successful and competitive rate ramp-up.”