Airbus 2020 Deliveries Drop 34 Percent
Net orders at the aerospace giant were off by almost two-thirds, weighed down by the impact of COVID-19
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus posted delivery figures for 2020 that were off by over one-third (34 percent) from the year prior. The manufacturer delivered 566 commercial aircraft last year, compared to 863 deliveries in 2019.
Net orders were also down by almost two thirds, from 863 in 2019 to just 268 in 2020. This net figure includes 115 aircraft order cancellations last year.
The manufacturer said the drop was attributable to the impact of COVID-19, although Airbus said that the figure was “in line with the production adaptation plan set out in April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Deliveries were down across all aircraft families, with airlines in the Asia Pacific region accounting for over a quarter of all 2020 deliveries, followed by Europe with just over 20 percent, and North America with 15 percent.
According to the company, over 25 percent of its deliveries last year were made through a new “e-delivery solution,” allowing customers to receive their aircraft “while minimizing the need for their teams to travel.”
“Working hand-in-hand with our customers allowed us to navigate a difficult year,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO. “Based on our 2020 deliveries we are cautiously optimistic as we look into 2021, although challenges and uncertainties remain high in the short term.”
In July last year Airbus reported a first half net loss of £1.9 billion, with just eight aircraft orders taken in the second quarter following the onset of COVID-19.
Revenues at Airbus fell 55 percent in the second quarter of 2020, compared with the same period last year, with the company reporting a $2.2 billion net loss in the first half of 2020. The manufacturer is set to report its full year 2020 financial results on Feb. 18.
