UK aerospace deliveries on track for record year

Posted on 28 Sep 2018 by Maddy White
Paul Everitt, CEO of ADS Group: "The Future Flight challenge will ensure the UK takes a lead in delivering cleaner, quieter and more innovative aircraft" - image courtesy of Depositphotos.

The first half of 2018 saw the UK’s aerospace sector set new records, and latest figures reveal British aircraft deliveries are on track to achieve a new production record for the year.

Commercial airplane at the sunrise aerospace aircraft aviation - image courtesy of Depositphotos.
August saw 118 commercial aircraft delivered, taking the total for the year to date to 927 – image courtesy of Depositphotos.

August saw 118 commercial aircraft delivered, taking the total for the year to date to 927, more than 40 ahead of the same period in 2017.

The value of UK aircraft deliveries this year is estimated at up to £18bn, as British aerospace businesses supply vital components like wings and engines to industry giants, Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier.

The deliveries were the highest achieved in any single month this year, with 93 single aisle aircraft including Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s making up the bulk of the figure.

Aerospace soars throughout 2018

Deliveries set new records for the first half of the year; Q2 saw 383 aircraft deliveries and the first six months totalled 693 aircraft, according to ADS – the trade body for UK aerospace, defence, security and space – as The Manufacturer previously reported. 

Demand for new technologically advanced and fuel efficient aircraft remains high, with a further 104 orders placed in August keeping the order backlog close to record levels at 14,236.

These aircrafts could potentially be worth up to £220bn to UK industry as orders are fulfilled.

Farnborough International Airshow orders worth £22bn

Farnborough International Airshow 2018 saw orders for engines and aircraft deals come close to record levels, as the industry continues to see consistent high demand.

British aerospace companies are expected to see an estimated £21.9bn in value from orders and commitments for engines and over 1,400 aircraft.

  • Airbus has had orders of 431 aircraft including an order agreed before the show for its 60 A220-300s from a new US airline.
  • Boeing secured US$98.4bn (£75.3bn) in orders, $2.1bn(£1.6bn) of that coming from commercial and defence orders.

Read the full breakdown of Airbus and Boeing deals at the airshow here.

Case study: JJ Churchill

The introduction of this new engine family serves to reaffirm the company's leading position in business aviation - image courtesy of Rolls-Royce.
Aerospace engineering company, JJ Churchill, has secured a 10-year contract in excess of £70m with Rolls‐Royce Civil Aerospace. – image courtesy of Rolls-Royce.

Aerospace engineering company, JJ Churchill, secured a 10-year contract in excess of £70m with Rolls‐Royce Civil Aerospace earlier this year.

The deal will see the Leicestershire-based engineering firm, which employs 150 people, supply Rolls-Royce with high precision turbine blades for the next decade.

Andrew Churchill, executive chairman of JJ Churchill, told The Manufacturer: “It really is a massive step forward in our strategy to move from a very high quality SME manufacturer, into a highly renowned gas turbine supplier that has the opportunity to tender for much larger contracts.”

Churchill said the aerospace market is, at present, “very buoyant” and although there are concerns for the sector post-Brexit, the growth globally is “phenomenal”. Read further comments from Churchill here.

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