April 9, 2021 / Airbus has published the results of Q1 of 2021:  the European manufacturer recorded growth in the first quarter (compared to last year) with the delivery of 125 aircraft to 44 different airlines after a strong increase of activities in March, when it received a total of 28 new aircraft orders and completed 72 deliveries to 34 separate customers. In the same three months last year, the Toulouse-based company had handed over a total of 122 airframes.

It also posted 39 gross orders, with an agreement to supply 20 A220s to an unidentified buyer. Net orders, however, are negative given that Norwegian Airlines (DY) which had planned to purchase 60 Airbus A321LRs, subsequently canceled the deal due to the financial crisis that led the company to bankruptcy.  Leasing company Avolon ordered 8 single-aisle aircraft but also canceled 8, converting the order into other variants.

According to data released by Airbus itself, several carriers have updated orders for both the 150-seat A320neo to the larger A321neo which made fortunes especially with the LR version.  In addition, Airbus has obtained more than 300 orders for the XLR version, at the Paris Air Show in 2019 (AA and UA on all who want to use them instead of the 757). 

US manufacturer  Boeing announced it will release Q1 figures on April 28. (Photo Airbus)