Core Viewpoint - Despite a year-on-year decline in new aircraft deliveries in the first half of the year, Airbus continues to secure significant new aircraft orders from various airlines and leasing companies, leading to an increase in backlog orders. Addressing supply chain challenges through further vertical integration is crucial for achieving production capacity goals [1][7]. Group 1: New Orders - On July 24, Airbus signed a procurement agreement with Avolon for 90 aircraft, including 15 A330neo and 75 A321neo, raising Avolon's total orders to 79 A330neo and 264 A321neo [2]. - Malaysia Airlines ordered 20 A330-900 aircraft, increasing its A330neo fleet to 40 units, with four already delivered [3]. - AirAsia signed a memorandum for 50 firm orders and 20 options for A321XLR aircraft, valued at $12.25 billion, as part of its transformation into a low-cost network airline [4]. Group 2: Market Trends and Company Strategies - Avolon's CEO expressed confidence in long-term demand for new aircraft, highlighting the attractiveness of A321neo and A330neo models amid the aviation industry's growth trends [2][3]. - AirAsia aims to achieve a passenger capacity of 150 million by 2030, with plans to reform its capacity structure by utilizing longer-range narrow-body aircraft [4][5]. - AirAsia is reportedly considering an additional order of up to 150 new aircraft, potentially including the A220 series [6]. Group 3: Supply Chain and Production Capacity - Airbus delivered 306 commercial aircraft in the first half of the year, a 5.56% decline compared to the same period in 2024, while securing over 400 net orders [7]. - Supply chain issues continue to impact delivery schedules, with executives acknowledging challenges related to suppliers like Spirit AeroSystems and engine manufacturers [7][8]. - Airbus aims to increase narrow-body aircraft production capacity to 75 units per month by 2027, with a new assembly line in Tianjin nearing completion [8][9]. Group 4: Localized Production Efforts - Airbus has initiated a new A321 fuselage system assembly project in collaboration with AVIC Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group, enhancing local production capabilities [9][10]. - The new assembly line in Tianjin is expected to focus on A321 production, with 70% of the output projected to be A321 models [8][10].

Core Insights - Airbus has dominated the Paris Air Show with nearly $21 billion in orders, significantly outpacing Boeing's 41 orders and Embraer's 15 orders [2][3] - Boeing's subdued presence is attributed to ongoing challenges, including the recent Air India crash and quality control issues, rather than a decline in demand [11][12][15] - The overall demand for new aircraft remains strong, driven by passenger demand and the need for airlines to renew aging fleets [10][13][16] Airbus Performance - Airbus secured 132 firm orders on Monday, including significant deals with AviLease, ANA, and LOT, and a 150-aircraft Memorandum of Understanding with VietJet Air [2][3] - The company is experiencing strong demand for wide-body aircraft, which are recovering more slowly than narrow-body models post-pandemic [15] Boeing's Situation - Boeing's quiet approach at the air show is a strategic decision amid a volatile geopolitical backdrop and recent crises, including the Air India disaster [11][12][15] - Despite fewer announcements, Boeing has a backlog of over 5,000 aircraft, indicating sustained demand in the long term [9][10] Industry Demand - The aircraft manufacturing industry is facing strong demand, with both Boeing and Airbus having backlogs that have remained stable for nearly a decade [9][10] - Stakeholders are cautious in the current environment, aware of the implications of any relaxation of safety standards following recent incidents [13][14] Market Context - The air show reflects a "muted" atmosphere in commercial aviation, with defense contracts gaining prominence due to geopolitical tensions [14] - Airlines are reassessing fleet strategies in light of recent crises, but strong profitability and travel demand growth suggest a continued appetite for new aircraft [16]

Core Viewpoint - The 55th Paris Air Show commenced on June 16, 2023, amidst a somber atmosphere due to a recent aviation accident, highlighting ongoing supply chain issues affecting production capacity and delivery in the aerospace industry [1] Orders Growth - Airbus secured a significant order from VietJet Air for 100 A321neo aircraft, with a potential addition of 50 more, marking the largest single order at the Paris Air Show [2] - Overall, Airbus's order volume surpassed that of the previous year's Farnborough Airshow, indicating a positive trend despite the absence of mega-orders like the 500 aircraft deal with IndiGo [2] - Additional confirmed orders for Airbus include 10 A350F freighters and 30 A320neo series from AviLease, and 25 A350-1000 from Riyadh Air, with potential increases in both orders [3][5] Market Dynamics - The A350 series has over 1,390 orders from more than 60 customers, but the A350-1000's order volume remains below expectations, prompting Airbus to consider a stretched version to enhance capacity [5] - Poland's LOT Polish Airlines placed an order for 40 A220 aircraft, marking its first purchase from Airbus, which may impact the market share of Bombardier's E2 series [6][7] Industry Challenges - Boeing's participation at the airshow was notably subdued, with no new aircraft displayed, following a recent crash involving a Boeing 787-8, which has raised concerns about the company's recovery and trust rebuilding efforts [8][9] - The aviation industry faces a collective challenge with supply chain crises impacting production capacity, leading to delays in aircraft deliveries and increased backlogs, with over 17,000 aircraft currently on order [10][11] - IATA forecasts a net profit of $36 billion for the global aviation industry by 2025, with total revenues expected to reach $979 billion, despite ongoing supply chain issues [10][11]

Market Dominance & Competition - Airbus has surpassed Boeing in market dominance, holding a significant lead in aircraft backlog [1][2] - Airbus's total backlog is 8726 aircraft compared to Boeing's 5643, representing billions of dollars in revenue and approximately 13 years to fulfill [3] - Airbus has delivered more planes annually than Boeing since 2019 [3] - The Airbus A320 family has surpassed the Boeing 737 in total orders, potentially becoming the most produced jet family in history [5][30] - Boeing dominates the widebody market with nearly 56% of the global fleet [25] Airbus A321neo Impact - The Airbus A321neo is a key factor in Airbus's market share, leading to an estimated 60-65% market share in deliveries, orders, and backlog [36] - Airlines are increasingly adopting the A321neo for its fuel efficiency and longer range capabilities [35] - Boeing lacks a comparable aircraft to the A321neo, giving Airbus a competitive advantage [37] Boeing's Challenges - Boeing has faced significant financial losses, manufacturing issues, and production limitations, including the grounding of the 737 Max eight [4][3] - Boeing's 737 Max production has been capped at 38 planes per month since January 2024 [40] - Boeing experienced an annual loss of $11.8 billion in 2024 [33] Future Outlook & Potential Disruptors - The industry anticipates new aircraft technologies, engines, and designs in the second half of the next decade [47] - China's Comac and Brazil's Embraer are potential competitors that could disrupt the Airbus-Boeing duopoly [51][52] - Tariffs and potential recessions could pose challenges to the globalized jetliner industry [43]