Commercial aircraft orders rose 9% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 to reach 569, marking the strongest start to a year for the sector since 2013, according to UK trade association ADS Group’s latest Economic Briefing.
The increase was largely driven by a 25% surge in single-aisle aircraft orders, underlining continued strength in short-haul travel demand despite a challenging global backdrop.
However, while order activity climbed, aircraft deliveries dipped slightly. A total of 261 aircraft were delivered in Q1 2026, representing a 4% decline compared to the same period last year. The drop masks a more positive trend in wide-body aircraft, where deliveries rose 13% year-on-year to their highest first-quarter level since 2020, suggesting gradual improvements in production pipelines.
The industry’s long-term outlook remains robust, with the global order backlog reaching a record 16,656 aircraft. At current production rates, ADS estimates this backlog could be worth more than £385bn to the UK economy, highlighting the scale of opportunity for the domestic aerospace supply chain.
Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS, said the figures point to continued resilience across the sector. She noted that rising orders reflect sustained market demand, even as geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures persist.
However, she cautioned that it remains unclear whether this momentum can be maintained throughout the year, stressing that continued growth will depend on global policy coordination and ongoing support from both governments and industry.
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