Preliminary data shows that Airbus delivered more than 600 commercial aircraft in 2021.
While the official figures are due to be released no earlier than the third week of January 2022 following an audit, several publications managed to get hold of insider information confirming year-end figures for Airbus.
Referring to an insider “close to the matter”, Bloomberg reports that Airbus deliveries amount to 610 aircraft, while Reuters confirms a figure of 600-plus jets, attributing the information to industry insiders. According to both sources, a spokesperson from Airbus declined to comment.
The manufacturer’s goal of 600 aircraft was set in July 2021, after the half-year results proved to be better than expected. At the beginning of the year, Airbus said it hoped to deliver at least 566 aircraft by the year-end.
The updated goal proved hard to reach, as the Omicron variant plunged the travel industry back into uncertainty. By the end of November 2021, just 518 aircraft had been delivered, raising doubts about the plane maker’s ability to reach its goal.
However, it seems like the company were able to push forward, upping the delivery of wide-body jets, which had been sluggish since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The same goal proved difficult for Boeing, Airbus’ greatest competitor. According to preliminary findings, the American manufacturer is on track to deliver just over 300 jets in 2021. While this is an improvement from its 2020 performance, this falls short of figures recorded in 2019 and previous years.