The Farnborough International Air Show, which opened its doors under a blazing sun, Monday, July 18, in the greater suburbs of London, is an opportunity for Boeing to find a little smile. At the opening of the event, the two latest products from the aircraft manufacturer from Seattle (State of Washington), the single-aisle 737 Max and the long-haul 777X, were able to fly without difficulty in the skies of London. Better, Boeing has also started to fill its order book.
The company has notably announced a major contract with the American company Delta Airlines, which has committed one hundred 737 Max and around thirty additional optional aircraft. An order valued at nearly 13.5 billion dollars (13.3 billion euros) for Boeing, which is still far behind its rival Airbus. Indeed, the European aircraft manufacturer’s order book is full, with more than 7,000 planes to produce, ie almost ten years of guaranteed work, while Boeing has “only” 4,239 planes in its holds to be delivered.
At Farnborough, the small improvement of the American manufacturer even had the gift of delighting its competitor. With a certain irony, an Airbus executive exclaimed: “The more 737 Max they sell, the less they will want to launch a new aircraft. » It is no coincidence that Airbus is in the lead with more than 60% market share. The group chaired by Guillaume Faury has the most complete range, from the smallest single-aisle A220 to the wide-body long-haul A350. Above all, Airbus launched the A321. An aircraft without equivalent at Boeing, which succeeds in squaring the circle: offering the capacities of a long-haul, but with the costs of a medium-haul. An aircraft that is particularly popular with low-cost airlines, always looking for savings.
Boeing has long held out the threat of a retaliatory response with the launch of a potential mid-market rival to the A321. The American would have given up on it, because it was too expensive to build. Above all, such a plane would arrive on the market too late, towards the end of the decade, i.e. just a few years before the new generation planes, hoped for in 2035. with hydrogen or with so-called sustainable kerosenes.
Diminished outlook
Somewhat cheered up by the performance of its 737 Max, Boeing does not yet see life in pink. Its forecasts for aircraft needs for the next twenty years, published on Sunday July 17, are down from 2021. By 2041, the American manufacturer forecasts that airlines worldwide will need 41,170 aircraft, representing a total turnover of 7,200 billion dollars. For the second consecutive year, the group is therefore revising its outlook downwards. A year ago, the aircraft manufacturer was still targeting 43,610 aircraft by 2040. Among the reasons given, the economic situation, which is worse than expected, but also the consequences of the war in Ukraine.
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