Page 40 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

FEATURE

PLANNING FOR RECOVERY

By Eric Brothers

ecovery in commercial aircraft
Rdemand depends on controlling the
coronavirus pandemic. Discretionary air trav-

el drives most transport aircraft needs, and

until people feel confident in traveling and

governments allow it, the commercial aero-
space supply chain must focus on survival.
Despite federal plans to boost COVID-19

vaccination production, president Joe

Biden said it will take until late summer to
treat most Americans, leaving the possibili-
ty of some resumption of air travel demand

later this year.
Domestic air travel will lead the way, as

demonstrated in Asia-Pacific nations and in

the US in late 2020.
Air cargo traffic volumes were down 12%

through Q3 2020, due to fewer planes flying.

However, Boeing analysts reported yields
were up more than 40% and overall air cargo
industry revenues were up more than 15%.
Defence and commercial space business

offer alternative revenue for companies
in those sectors. The US department of

defence and NASA continued to award
contracts through 2020 and there are no
immediate signs this activity will be cur-

tailed under the new administration.

AIRBUS
Airbus kept to its April 2020 production

plan in response to the COVID-19 pandem-
ic, delivering 566 commercial aircraft last

year, 34% fewer than in 2019. The company resumed in December following the plane’s Boeing plans to move all 787 production

reported 383 new orders, and after 115 ungrounding in November. In a vote of to South Carolina by mid-2021. Combined

cancellations, Airbus’ year-end backlog confidence, Alaska Airlines management 777/777X production rate will decrease

stood at 7,184 aircraft. announced plans to buy 23 more 737-9 to two per month in 2021. No changes in

The long-range single-aisle A321XLR airplanes, bringing the airline’s 737 MAX production rates have been announced for

garnered 37 orders, continuing its upward orders and options to 120 airplanes. the 747 and 767 programmes.

sales trend as wide-body orders shrunk. Cancellations far outnumbered gross EMBRAER
Airbus plans to gradually increase A320 orders for the year (net -454), but as of

family monthly production rates from 40 to November 30, 2020, Boeing’s unadjusted Embraer ended Q3 2020 (the latest figures

43 in Q3 and 45 in Q4 2021 - a slower ramp backlog stood at 5,053 aircraft, of which available) with a firm order backlog of (US)

up from last July’s anticipated 47 aircraft 81% were single-aisle jets. $15.1 billion.

per month. A220 production will increase On the defence ledger, Boeing delivered For the year, the company delivered 16

from 4 to 5 aircraft per month from the end 71 new and remanufactured AH-64 Apache commercial jets and 43 executive jets (33
of Q1 2021 as previously foreseen. and 30 new and renewed CH-47 Chinook light jets and 10 large jets), compared to 54

Widebody production is expected to helicopters, 4 F-15 and 20 F/A-18 fighters, commercial jets and 63 executive jets deliv-

remain at current levels, with monthly 14 767-derived KC-46 tankers, and 15 ered during the first nine months of 2019.

production rates of around five for the 737-derived P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. Boeing terminated its government-ap-

A350 and two for the A330. Airbus officials Forecast International reports Boeing proved joint venture with Embraer early

expect the commercial aircraft market to will increase 737 MAX production to 31 per in the pandemic, leaving the Brazilian

return to pre-COVID levels somewhere month by early 2022, down from 42 per company to re-establish its global market-

between 2023 to 2025. month before production halted in May ing efforts.

2020. Boeing is reducing 787 production In its 2020 Market Outlook, Embraer
BOEING from 14 per month (at the start of 2020) to commercial aviation president and CEO

Boeing’s Q4 2020 results offered a path six per month throughout 2021 while also Arjan Meijer foresees global passenger

to its recovery as 737 MAX deliveries addressing manufacturing quality issues. traffic will return to 2019 levels by 2024 and
World Airnews | March 2021
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