Airbus and Boeing – historic gross orders and deliveries (2018-2024) FIGURE 13Gross orders Deliveries 201835004000 806863 800 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 0 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Boeing gross orders Airbus gross orders Airbus deliveries380 157566611661766735 340480528 348 Boeing deliveries100200300400500600700800900 1000 Source: Airbus and Boeing. Delay in the rollout of new aircraft is pushing airlines to fly older and less efficient planes, often with additional costs needed to refurbish existing fleets, as demand for premium classes increases. For example, in 2024 British Airways135 announced plans to retain and upgrade its A380 fleet with new cabins to improve the passenger experience, while increasing the number of premium seats; meanwhile, Emirates completed the refurbishment of its A380s and started to deploy these on a greater number of routes.136OEMs have seen increased scrutiny on safety and production quality as well as some workforce disputes – these have had an impact both on the orders of new aircraft (down for Airbus and Boeing in 2024 compared to the previous year, as shown in Figure 13) and on the development of zero-carbon propulsion projects (discussed in Chapter 2). Looking at 2025, Airbus and Boeing have outlined their strategies to address these challenges, with a positive outlook for production. Additionally, Honeywell’s forecast indicates an increased demand for new business jets and stable growth for the next decade, which could positively impact both companies, as well as Comac (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China), as they adapt to market demands and enhance their production capabilities.133 Comac in particular is ramping up efforts to expand its production capacity and improve its supply chain to meet increasing demand,134 especially from Southeast Asian countries. Global Aviation Sustainability Outlook 2025 35