Airbus has released its official orders and deliveries report for the first half of 2020, with deliveries showing steady signs of improvement.
According to the report, Airbus delivered 36 commercial aircraft to carriers all around the globe in June 2020, a slight increase from its 24 deliveries made in May, and well up from just 14 deliveries made in April.
The June deliveries consisted mostly of narrow-body single-aisle aircraft, including 18 A320neos, 13 A320neos, and one A220-300. The sole A220-300 was delivered to Air Canada.
The remaining four aircraft were all A350-900s, two of which were sent to Spanish flag-carrier Iberia, with the other two rehomed to Air France and Scandinavian Airlines, respectively.
The June results bring the total figure for deliveries in the first half of the year to 196, including 11 A220s, 157 A320 Family aircraft, five A330s, and 23 A350s.
Meanwhile, the total figure for new aircraft orders in the first six months of the year was 298, down on the previous year’s first-half figure of 389.
Unfortunately, no new orders have been reported by Airbus since April 2020.
The latest order was placed by Ireland-based aircraft leasing company, Avolon, on 1 April for eight A320neos and one A321neo.
Further, the European aircraft manufacturer reported a total of 67 aircraft delivery cancellations in the six months ending June 2020.
The slowdown in order and delivery figures at Airbus does not come as a shock.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent stringent border control measures, has condemned aircraft all around the globe to the ground.
The crisis has seen popular aircraft sent off to the desert for prolonged storage, while other types have been sent to an early retirement.
For Airbus, this has meant airlines have, in increasing numbers, cancelled or delayed their deliveries for previously ordered aircraft, and halted any plans for upcoming orders.
Last month, Qatar Airways announced that it would be suspending all 200 of its on-order aircraft, drawing a hard line with manufacturers by stating it will be refusing to take on any new plane deliveries over the next two to three years.
Shortly after, Norwegian Air announced it would be cancelling 97 aircraft orders placed with Chicago-based manufacturer Boeing.
Due to dwindling demand for aircraft, Airbus also recently announced it would be culling its international workforce by 10 per cent, or 15,000 employees over the next 12 months.
