Aviation

Does Boeing’s issues contribute to Airbus dominating the aviation market in 2024

In the wake of Boeing’s recent challenges, marked by the in-flight door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, the aviation industry is witnessing a stark contrast in the fortunes of major players.

While Boeing’s leadership grapples to contain the fallout from its latest crisis, Airbus is confidently asserting its dominance in the commercial airliner business, painting a picture of success in 2023.

As Airbus proudly claims its position as the world’s No. 1 airplane maker for the fifth consecutive year, it becomes evident that the company is pulling ahead of its U.S. competitor. The data on last year’s jet orders and deliveries underscores Airbus’s remarkable achievements, delivering a total of 735 commercial aircraft to 87 customers globally—an impressive 11% increase from the previous year.

The success story for Airbus continues with the Commercial Aircraft business recording 2,319 gross new orders, including 1,835 and 300 orders for the A320 Family and A350 Family aircraft, respectively. With a year-end backlog standing at 8,598 aircraft, Airbus demonstrates both resilience and sustained demand in the face of a challenging operating environment.

On the Boeing front, the company reports significant achievements in 2023, delivering 528 commercial airplanes throughout the year. However, Airbus emerges as the clear winner, boasting higher delivery numbers, a substantial order backlog, and a strategic focus on next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft.

As Airbus executives exude confidence, readily address questions, and outline plans for accelerating production and introducing new planes in the 2030s, Boeing grapples with the repercussions of the Alaska in-flight incident. The incident has grounded MAX 9s, leading to anticipated production slowdowns due to extra inspections. Moreover, certification delays for the final two MAX models, the MAX 7 and MAX 10, loom on the horizon.

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Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.