The 2024 Farnborough International Air Show in the UK has registered fewer expressions of interest than previous years.
Airlines and lessors have placed or expressed their intention to place 256 aircraft orders from manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, more than half of them long-haul. However, this year’s haul is significantly lower than the 441 aircraft ordered during the 2022 edition and far short of 2018’s record 1,464 orders, according to a FlightGlobal tally.
The biennial event wraps up on Friday, but the bulk of orders typically occur on the first two days.
In a surprise move, Airbus announced on Thursday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi low-cost airline Flynas, set to procure 75 A320 family aircraft and 15 long-haul A330-900s.
The deal positions the European manufacturer ahead in the traditional order race – one both Airbus and Boeing say they do not intentionally take part in.
Airbus’s total of confirmed and intended orders stands at 160 against Boeing’s 96, as per a tally by French news agency AFP.
During the week, Seattle-based Boeing sold 74 large aircraft, while Korean Air inked an MoU for 20 models of the yet-to-be-certified 777-9, a variant of the 777X, and 20 Dreamliner 787-10s.
Qatar Airways also signed up for 20 large 777-9 aircraft, bringing its 777X fleet backlog to 94 planes. The model, expected to be certified in 2025, can ferry up to 426 passengers over 13,500 kilometres.
Japan Airlines formalised the acquisition of 10 Dreamliner 787-9s, an order initially announced in March, while US transporter National Air Cargo purchased four 777-F cargo planes.
Boeing also confirmed the sale of 22 single-aisle 737 MAX.
On top of the Flynas agreement, Airbus clinched the sale of 48 other long-haul aircraft – including an order for 21 A350-900 planes announced by Japan Airlines in March. The manufacturer also finalised Vietjet Airlines’ acquisition of 20 A330-900 aircraft, first announced in February, and Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to seven of the same model.
The European company managed to sell an additional 22 single-aisle aircraft as well, including three A321 XLRs that recently obtained certification.
Franco-Italian ATR closed the sale of four turboprop ATR 72-600s to Air Tahiti, while Canadian manufacturer De Havilland placed eleven Dash-8s with various customers.
Trade shows provide a platform for intense trade discussions, but the timing of the announcement of their conclusion usually depends on the buyer’s desire for publicity.
Both manufacturers aim to enhance their production capacity to deliver an immense backlog of orders set to continue until the end of the decade.
