The world's two largest aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, are facing "unprecedented" aircraft certification and delivery delays, severely impacting airlines' expansion plans and decarbonization goals.
Air France-KLM Group CEO Ben Smith warned during a European airlines online press conference on Tuesday that certification wait times for certain long-haul aircraft have reached seven to eight years, setting historic records.
Smith stated that every supplier is behind schedule, with airlines seeing no signs of improvement since the pandemic ended. These delays are creating serious backlogs among major European carriers.
**Supply Chain Crisis Continues to Plague Aircraft Manufacturers**
Since the pandemic devastated supply chains, Boeing and Airbus have struggled to deliver products on time. Boeing's 777X project has become a prime example of these delays, with the wide-body aircraft's original delivery timeline now postponed by six years.
According to previous reports, the 777X is now expected to enter commercial service in early 2027, representing another delay of approximately one year from previous plans. Major customers including Lufthansa and IAG continue to await delivery of this aircraft.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr mentioned during the conference that the US government shutdown has halted aircraft inspection work, also affecting approval for a seat type on the company's new Boeing 787 aircraft.
**Short-Haul Aviation Market Shows Positive Signals**
Despite severe delays in long-haul aircraft deliveries, airline executives expressed more optimism about the short-haul aircraft market.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary stated that Boeing has made "significant progress" in ramping up production of 737 Max jets, although deliveries still lag behind schedule.
This positive signal provides a glimmer of hope for the troubled Boeing, which has been working to restore 737 Max production and delivery capabilities.
**US Government Shutdown Exacerbates Industry Challenges**
The US government shutdown has delivered multiple blows to the aviation industry, not only halting critical aircraft inspection work but also affecting international cooperation. Spohr noted that the Washington impasse has also impacted Lufthansa's flight connections with US partners.
Smith expressed pessimism about near-term improvements, believing that all participants should not hold excessive hope for the immediate situation. This ongoing uncertainty is forcing airlines to reassess their fleet expansion and renewal plans.