Nobody should write off Airbus competitor Boeing

Boeing 737 Max in front of the aircraft yard in Renton, USA

Following the re-registration of the jet, the US aircraft manufacturer is hoping for new orders this year.

(Photo: Reuters)

For the third year in a row, Airbus has outclassed its competitor Boeing in terms of the number of commercial aircraft delivered. The European aviation group proves once again that it is a success story.

But it is by no means as cemented as it looks. It would be grossly negligent to write off Boeing. If the management of the US group does not make serious mistakes, the Airbus rival can set the course for its comeback this year.

The prerequisites are right. This is not only proven by the more than 400 orders that Boeing was able to collect in all probability last year after deducting the cancellations. The Boeing management is also persistently working its way out of the crisis mode and on the future of the company.

The facts: The short- and medium-haul aircraft 737 Max is allowed to take off again worldwide after a two-year compulsory break. The longer the Max flies without any significant problems, the greater the confidence the airlines have in the jet. That gives hope for further orders in 2022. There are many airlines that use Boeing fleets. You don’t need to switch to Airbus equipment for a lot of money.

Top jobs of the day

Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.

In addition, Boeing is in the process of expanding the range of models at the Max. A smaller 737 Max 7 is about to be approved, and the large US low-cost airline Southwest has already placed substantial orders. At the other end of the offer, the testing of the 10, the largest Max, goes ahead. Ryanair is and will remain a potential customer, even if the management of the Irish airline recently had a violent argument with Boeing about prices.

Boeing is expanding its range of models

In the long-haul business, Boeing should finally get the quality problems in the production of the Dreamliner under control. Many customers are waiting for delivery, including Lufthansa. At the same time, Boeing wants to give variant 10 of the 787 more range in order to increase the attractiveness of the jet and to close the gap to the competitor model Airbus A350-900.

The 777 X, the largest twin-engine jet in the world and equipped with folding wings, should see advances in certification this year. Boeing had to postpone the market launch of the aircraft several times. The interest is there, also in a freighter version.

So there is much to suggest that the balance in the decades-long aircraft oligopoly can soon be restored. That’s a good thing. After all, competition drives innovation. In view of the pressure towards climate neutrality, aviation needs this more than ever.

More: Delivery problems vs. quality defects – Airbus has so far not been able to use Boeing’s weakness

.
source site-11