Airbus reports record commercial aircraft orders in 2023

Photo Credit: Airbus

In its full-year commercial aircraft orders and deliveries report for 2023, Airbus (Toulouse, France) says it demonstrated strong recovery and acceleration for modernizing aircraft fleets with the latest generation of fuel-efficient aircraft, despite a complex operating environment. This past year, the aerospace giant delivered 735 commercial aircraft to 87 global customers around the world in 2023. Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business registered 2,319 gross new orders (2,094 net). As a result, its 2023 year-end backlog stood at 8,598 aircraft.

“2023 was a landmark year for Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business with exceptional sales and deliveries on the upper end of our target,” Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, says. “A number of factors came together to help us achieve our goals, including the increased flexibility and capability of our global industrial system, as well as the strong demand from airlines to refresh their fleets with our most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft.”

Full aircraft fleet deliveries for 2023 versus 2022 included:

	2023	2022
A220 Family	68	53
A320 Family	571	516
A330 Family	32	32
A350 Family	64	60
Total	735	661*

*After a reduction of two aircraft (two A350-900 AEROFLOT) previously recorded as sold in December 2021 for which a transfer was not possible due to international sanctions against Russia.

“We originally anticipated aviation to recover sometime in the 2023-2025 timeframe, but what we saw in 2023 was, alongside the single-aisle market, widebody return much sooner than expected, and with vigour,” notes Christian Scherer, Airbus’ newly appointed CEO, Commercial Aircraft. “A big thumbs up to our commercial and regional teams, and importantly, a big thank you to our customers for their trust and partnership. We have never sold as many A320s or A350s in any given year, not to mention welcoming seven new customers for the A350-1000. Travel is back and there is serious momentum!” Scherer adds that there are now 735 more fuel-efficient Airbus jets flying today.