The world’s two dominant commercial aircraft manufacturers, Airbus of Europe and Boeing of the US, both recently announced that they had made record aircraft deliveries in 2014. Boeing set a global record for the industry with 723 commercial aircraft delivered, while Airbus achieved a company record of 629 deliveries. This was also the 13th year in succession that the European group increased the number of commercial aircraft it delivered – itself a record. In addition, the world’s number three commercial aircraft manufacturer, Brazil’s Embraer, delivered 92 airliners (plus 116 business jets, of which 24 were categorised as large) last year.

Also during the year, Airbus recorded 1 456 net orders, while the figure for Boeing was 1 432, worth $232.7-billion at list prices (Airbus did not give a total value for its net orders). Embraer did not release a figure for net orders achieved during 2014.

“What the Boeing team achieved in 2014 is truly unprecedented, especially in the face of fierce competition,” affirmed Boeing commercial airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner. “Boeing’s achievements are based on the dedication of our talented employees, the trust that our customers place in our products and the partnership with our suppliers.”

“2014 has been an excellent year and the teams in Airbus not only delivered on, but exceeded their targets and commitments,” reported Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier. “Airbus also made strong progress towards a faster, simpler and more agile company, while our strategy of incremental innovation is helping to consolidate our market-leading position in all categories.”

In terms of order backlogs, that for Boeing now stands at 5 789 aircraft, another record high for the company, while that for Airbus is currently 6 386, which is a record for the industry. Boeing did not reveal the monetary value of its backlog, but the Airbus backlog is worth $919.3-billion at list prices. Embraer has a firm order backlog (that is, excluding options) of 459 commercial jets and stated that, on December 31, 2014, its firm order backlog was worth $20.9-billion (but this probably includes business jets).

The US group reported that its wide-bodied aircraft – the Boeing 747-8, 767, 777 and 787 – made up 60% of all deliveries of aircraft in this category last year. Airbus stated that it had secured more than 50% of the market for airliners with more than 100 seats. Airbus deliveries last year comprised 490 A320 family single-aisle (narrow-body) aircraft and 139 wide-bodied airliners, composed of 108 A330s, 30 A380s and the very first production A350 XWB. Boeing delivered 485 next-generation 737 single-aisle aircraft and 238 wide-bodied aircraft, but gave no information on the specific numbers for its different wide-body types. All Embraer’s commercial aircraft are smaller single-aisle, more regionally-orientated types. The Brazilian group describes itself as “the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jets up to 130 seats”. Its deliveries last year comprised one E170, 62 E175s, 19 E190s and ten E195s.

Airbus has also released its list prices for its aircraft for this year. These show a 3.27% increase across the board in comparison to last year. For its single-aisle aircraft, the new average list prices are: A318, $74.3-million; A319, $88.6-million; A320, $97-million; A321, $113.7-million; A319neo [new engine option], $97.5-million; A320neo, $106.2-million; and A321neo, $124.4-million. For its wide-body aircraft, the prices are: A330-200, $229-million; A330-800neo, $249.6-million; A330-200 freighter, $232.2-million; A330-300, $253.7-million; A330-900neo, $284.6-million; A350-800, $269.5-million; A350-900, $304.8-million; A350-1000, $351.9-million; and A380-800, $428-million. Actual prices, the company points out, are dependent upon “design weights, engines choice and [the] level of selected customisation”.

Separately, Airbus has also announced the launch of a new version of the A321neo with a maximum take-off weight of 97 t. This allows the aircraft to carry more fuel and will give it a range of 4 000 nautical miles, making it the longest-ranged single-aisle airliner in the world. The A321neo 97t was launched following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with US group Air Leasing Corporation, which increased its orders for A321neos from 60 to 90, including the new long-ranged version, which will be able to operate across the North Atlantic.