While it’s been a tough couple of years for Boeing, December 2021 seemed to just add insult
to injury for the US planemaker. It was around the middle of the month that two historically
loyal Boeing customers switched camps and decided to go with Airbus for their future fleets.
Let’s take a look at these orders and their significance to the overall industry.
Things began on December 15th (or 16th depending on the time zone). It was
then that Qantas announced that Airbus was the chosen supplier for its future narrowbody fleet.
The Australian flag carrier intends to purchase 40 aircraft from both the A320neo and the A220
families and wants to hold options for a further 94. Although the deal is not expected to be
formally announced until June, it’s still a major feather in the cap of the European planemaker.
Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will power both aircraft types and deliver fuel
savings of between 15-20%, contributing to Qantas’ broader emission reduction efforts.
Hours later, Air France-KLM group announced a firm order for 100
A320neo family jets alongside purchase rights for an additional 60 aircraft. The order covers Airbus
A320neo and Airbus A321neo aircraft with first deliveries expected in the second half of 2023.
The group stated that these aircraft will operate medium-haul routes in Europe,
notably from Amsterdam-Schiphol – KLM’s global hub and Transavia Netherlands’ main base,
and from Paris-Orly, Transavia France’s main base.
Airbus was pegged as the front runner for the group’s fleet renewal for some time,
following the issuance of a tender earlier this year.
The tender was to expand and renew the short-haul fleet of both KLM and Transavia.
Both orders for Airbus jets will be a kick in the teeth for Boeing,
as all carriers involved are Boeing narrowbody customers at present.
KLM flies 47 737NGs for its short-haul needs, which average almost 15 years of age across the
fleet. Transavia has 39 737s, averaging 11.8 years of age, while Transavia France has 54 737-800s
with an average age of 9.1 years. None of these airlines presently fly the A320 family of jets.
Down under, Qantas’ order will see the replacement of its domestic Boeing 737-800
workhorse aircraft. The airline has 75 Boeing 737s flying passengers, the oldest of which
have just turned 20 years of age. But over 20 of those 75 planes are 18 years or older. The A220
order will see Qantas’ 20 strong fleet of Boeing 717-200s also phased out- sad news for 717 fans!
Qantas has long had a Boeing lean, having flown fleets of Boeing 717s,
737s, 767s, and 747s until recently. The airline’s flagship long-haul jet is presently the 787-9
but the A350 is set to take the crown for the carrier’s “Project Sunrise.”
Why do you think these airlines went with the A320neo family as opposed to the 737
MAX? And, given these two massive upsets for Boeing, what do you think
the US planemaker can do to regain its lost market share? Let us know in the comments.