In 2017, aircraft deliveries were worth up to £29bn to UK industry as manufacturers in this country and around the world again raised their production rates to set a new annual record. Both orders and deliveries in December provided an end of year surge that broke a series of industry records, according to figures from trade body ADS.
A total of 213 deliveries in the last month of 2017 – the highest monthly figure of the year took the overall figure for the year to 1498, more than 50 aircraft ahead of the previous record of 1443 set in 2016.
December also saw a new record for aircraft orders in any single month, with 1226 orders taking the overall backlog on manufacturers’ books to 14,312, another new record.
The new annual delivery record set in 2017 was driven by a 6% increase in deliveries of single aisle aircraft, which also accounted for more than 1200 of the orders placed in December. The order book for engines – an important part of the UK aerospace Industry – also sits at an all-time high figure of more than 26,000.
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Airbus will produce A380 superjumbo passenger jets for at least another ten years following the receipt of an order from Emirates worth $16bn. The deal for 36 A380 aircraft is comprised of 20 firm orders and 16 options. Along with the airline’s 101 A380 fleet and its current order backlog for 41 aircraft, this new order brings Emirates’ commitment to the A380 programme to 178 aircraft, worth over $60bn.