First Quarter Aircraft Deliveries Match 2018 Pace
- Aircraft deliveries in first three months of 2019 reach 311, one ahead of 2018, which went on to set a new annual record for deliveries.
- Estimated UK value of up to £6.5bn from Q1 deliveries, with the wide-body segment of the commercial aerospace market performing strongly.
- Order backlog remains above 14,000 aircraft with strong long-term demand, but industry faces headwinds in bid to set new annual production record.
Manufacturers delivered 311 aircraft in the first quarter of 2019, including 88 wide-bodies aircraft to match a record set in 2015.
The total deliveries from January to March this year are worth up to an estimated £6.5bn to UK industry, while the global industry’s total order backlog of 14,107 aircraft could be worth up to £215bn to our economy as they are produced in the coming years.
ADS has forecasted another new record being set this year, ahead of the production mark of 1,618 aircraft set in 2018.
However, with a range of factors having an impact on the aerospace and aviation market in 2019, the industry faces challenges in achieving a ninth consecutive annual record.
ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said:
“The aerospace industry has set its sights on another record year for aircraft production, fuelled by strong international demand for modern, technologically advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft.
“Production has so far kept pace with a record 2018, but global challenges are generating headwinds for the global aviation and aerospace industries. In Europe Brexit uncertainty is increasing supply chain costs, international trade disputes risk new tariffs and cost-conscious travellers are challenging airline profitability.
“We expect another year of impressive aircraft production by historical standards, but the sector’s ambitious targets for 2019 set a stiff test for the global industry.”