Airbus’ target of delivering 800 aircraft in 2020 is at risk because Chinese airlines have been quietly deferring orders, Bloomberg has reported.
The revelation comes after AirAsia X similarly asked to delay receipt of 78 A330neos in February.
The Malaysian budget carrier was one of the biggest customers for the popular wide-body jet.
On 24 February, World of Aviation reported that the European planemaker was set to invest more than €1 billion in its A220 program in 2020. However, analysts at USB recently slashed their forecasts for both Airbus and Boeing in light of the coronavirus crisis.
Coronavirus could cost the aviation industry four times as much as previously thought, the International Air Transport Association predicted last week.
IATA now estimates the financial impact at $63 billion if the virus is contained within current markets, and $113 billion if it spreads to previously less-affected markets.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s chief executive, said, “The turn of events as a result of COVID-19 is almost without precedent. In little over two months, the industry’s prospects in much of the world have taken a dramatic turn for the worse.
“It is unclear how the virus will develop, but whether we see the impact contained to a few markets and a $63 billion revenue loss, or a broader impact leading to a $113 billion loss of revenue, this is a crisis.”
