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

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly