Can Boeing catch up to Airbus in 2022?

Airbus snatched the title of world’s largest aircraft manufacturer from Boeing in 2019. The primary reason that the European planemaker was able to overtake its US rival was because of Boeing’s 737 MAX debacle. Instead of a new iteration of the world’s most successful jet, Boeing's deliveries came to a near-standstill and caused a huge hole in the manufacturer's budget. 

However, the ungrounding of the MAX in late 2020 and the eventual resumption of its deliveries seemed to address the problem. The aircraft, with its flaws fixed, became extremely popular with the airlines once again.  

This was certainly the case at the 2022 Farnborough Airshow, where the MAX received more orders than all other aircraft models combined. This success seemed to place Boeing far ahead of its largest rival, Airbus, which barely received any orders at all during the event.  

However, if we take a brief look beyond the Farnborough Airshow orders, we can see a different story. With July 2022 orders and deliveries for both Airbus and Boeing finally available, let’s take a look at how the companies are doing. 

In 2021 Airbus left Boeing for dust, delivering 611 aircraft compared to 340 for the American company. However, Boeing received slightly more gross orders – 909 vs. 771. A greater number of Boeing’s orders were also canceled. However, the company was still ahead in terms of net orders (535 vs. 507). 

Considering that in 2020 Boeing delivered just 157 aircraft, it clearly shows how important the ungrounding of the MAX was for the company.  

Yet, at the start of 2022, Boeing’s deliveries constantly fell short of the goal to surpass Airbus. While Boeing edged slightly ahead during January, it was unable to replicate this performance and, as of July 2022, is still lagging behind its competitor. 

The number of orders was even more one-sided. Boeing received more orders in January and May, yet that was not enough, and Airbus finished the first half of 2022 with 442 gross orders against Boeing’s 226. 

By July, the imbalance became even more apparent. Just before Boeing began to attract attention for its Farnborough success, Airbus bagged some of its largest orders of the year with China's top airlines purchasing almost 300 European jets. 

This bumped Airbus far ahead of Boeing in terms of orders. Even if we adjust for cancellations, the European manufacturer is still in the lead with 656 net orders this year against Boeing’s 312. 

So, is Boeing on track to re-establish itself as the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer in 2022? Not even close. And although the company’s orders are improving, giving the planemaker a decent chance of showing a good deliveries performance in the future, Airbus still holds a comfortable lead in this regard. 

Conclusion:

As we approach the end of 2022, it's clear that Boeing has made significant strides in recovering from its setbacks due to the 737 MAX grounding. Once plagued by flaws, the aircraft has reemerged as a popular choice among airlines, as demonstrated by its success at the 2022 Farnborough Airshow. However, a different picture emerges when we look beyond the airshow orders and examine the year's overall performance.

In 2021, Airbus outperformed Boeing by a considerable margin, delivering 611 aircraft compared to Boeing's 340. While Boeing received more gross orders (909 vs. 771), a higher number of its demands were cancelled. Nevertheless, Boeing managed to maintain a lead in net orders, with 535 against Airbus's 507. This demonstrated the critical role the ungrounding of the MAX played in Boeing's recovery.

At the start of 2022, Boeing showed signs of closing the gap with Airbus, but this momentum needed to be improved. Despite briefly edging ahead in January, Boeing struggled to maintain its lead throughout the year. By July 2022, Airbus had pulled significantly along in terms of both orders and deliveries.

Airbus secured substantial orders from China's top airlines, bolstering its position with nearly 300 European jet orders. Even when accounting for cancellations, Airbus maintained a strong lead in net orders, with 656 compared to Boeing's 312.

In conclusion, while Boeing has made commendable progress in 2022 and has shown signs of recovery, it is still a substantial distance away from re-establishing itself as the world's largest aircraft manufacturer. Airbus holds a comfortable lead in orders and deliveries, suggesting that Boeing has more ground to cover before challenging its European rival's dominance.

FAQs:

What factors led Airbus to overtake Boeing as the world's largest aircraft manufacturer in 2019? 

Airbus took the lead primarily due to Boeing's 737 MAX grounding, which resulted in a significant reduction in deliveries and financial challenges for Boeing. The crisis caused by the MAX's flaws allowed Airbus to surpass its American rival in terms of aircraft deliveries.

How did the ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX impact the company's performance in 2022? 

The ungrounding of the Boeing 737 MAX played a pivotal role in Boeing's recovery in 2022. With the aircraft's flaws addressed, it regained popularity among airlines and received a surge in orders, particularly at the 2022 Farnborough Airshow. This helped Boeing improve its performance compared to the previous years.

What key performance indicators were used to assess Boeing's and Airbus's performance in 2022? 

The key indicators used to evaluate their performance included aircraft deliveries and orders. While Boeing had a slight advantage in gross charges, Airbus maintained a lead in net orders, which accounted for cancellations. In terms of deliveries, Airbus consistently outperformed Boeing throughout the year.

Is Boeing likely to regain its position as the world's largest aircraft manufacturer in 2022? 

No, it is doubtful that Boeing will regain its position as the world's largest aircraft manufacturer in 2022. Despite improvements in its orders and deliveries, Airbus still holds a substantial lead in both categories. Boeing has made progress but has yet to close the gap sufficiently to challenge Airbus's dominance in the current year.