(AFP / GIUSEPPE CACACE)
Airbus delivered 63 new aircraft to its customers in March, a usual rate for this time of year despite its ramp-up, and recorded 137 orders over the month, the aircraft manufacturer announced Tuesday in a press release.
The European aircraft manufacturer thus delivered 14 more planes than in February. Deliveries in March are traditionally larger than those of the previous two months, occurring before the publication of quarterly results.
Deliveries are a reliable indicator of profitability in aviation because airlines pay the majority of the bill when they take possession of the planes.
With these 63 aircraft delivered last month, the group found the same number of deliveries as in March 2022. In the first quarter, the aircraft manufacturer delivered 142 aircraft to its customers, compared to 127 during the first three months of the year. pass.
Airbus expects a total of 800 deliveries in 2024, compared to 735 in 2023.
The aircraft manufacturer notably delivered 51 A320 and A321 aircraft in March, while it intends to increase its monthly production rate to 75 aircraft in 2026.
The European group also recorded 137 orders in March, bringing the number of new orders received since the start of the year to 170. He notably entered in his book a large order for 33 long-haul A350s from Korean Air, for $13.7 billion according to the company, as well as another for 85 A321 planes for American Airlines.
At the end of March, Airbus’ order book totaled 8,626 aircraft, including 7,177 from the A320 family (588 A220s, 176 A330s, 685 A350s).