Farnborough (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Leasing firm SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 200 new medium-sized aircraft from Boeing and Airbus at the start of the landmark Farnborough Air Show on Monday, the companies said. US plane maker Boeing said it received an SMBC order for 100 of its 737 MAX jets, while its European rival Airbus reported that the firm ordered another 100 of its popular A320neo.
The head of Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes division, Stephanie Pope, stated that the order “reflects the strong demand we are seeing for the 737 MAX family’s efficiency, reliability, and versatility.” Airbus quoted SMBC Aviation Capital’s chief executive, Peter Barrett, as saying that the “significant” A320neo order “will give our airline customers access to a continuous delivery pipeline” of the model “into the mid-2030s.” Additionally, Airbus commercial aircraft’s executive vice president for sales, Benoit de Saint-Exupery, mentioned that the order “reflects the global market appetite for the A320neo Family for the years to come as customers select the latest generation and most efficient aircraft to grow and renew fleets.” The value of the order, which consists of 65 A321neo and 35 A320 models, was not disclosed.
In April, Airbus reported that its first-quarter profit fell as it delivered fewer planes to customers, resulting in it falling behind Boeing for the first time in years. The drop in deliveries to 114 in the first quarter, compared to 143 for Boeing, was primarily due to a shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines. Consequently, net profit slumped 26 percent from the same quarter last year, reaching 586 million euros ($667 million).
Boeing, following production quality issues, lawsuits, and an overhaul of its governance, plans to stage a major comeback at Farnborough, just outside London. The green light from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in October 2025 to lift the cap on production of the single-aisle 737 MAX, its best-selling aircraft, was seen as an important milestone. The company is also awaiting the certification of its three new aircraft after several years of delays.
SMBC’s Boeing order, the value of which has also not been disclosed, includes 60 of 737-10 aircraft and 40 of the 737-8 aircraft. Barrett commented, “Our partnership with Boeing goes back more than two decades, and this order reflects market momentum, as our airline and investor customers look to increase capacity with the 737-10.” He added, “This order will support their growth ambitions well into the next decade and reflects our strong confidence in the Boeing 737 MAX and sustained demand for fuel-efficient, technologically advanced narrowbody aircraft.”
The company, based in Dublin, Ireland, and described as the world’s leading aviation finance platform, manages a fleet of 1,700 aircraft for more than 170 airlines worldwide. Boeing also announced on Monday that Saudi carrier Riyadh Air was exercising options for 28 of its 787 Dreamliners from an order placed in 2023 and will convert 20 options to the largest variant of this aircraft. Riyadh Air has also confirmed an order for six additional Airbus A350-1000s, bringing its firm commitment for this type of aircraft to 31, as stated by the European aircraft manufacturer in a separate statement.
© 2024 AFP
