PARIS (FRANCE) – A sharp increase in activity in March has led Airbus to receive 125 aircrafts, which has in turn helped the airline to report slightly higher deliveries in the first quarter. According to monthly data, Airbus posted 39 gross orders, including a new deal for 20 A220s to an unidentified buyer. the shares of Airbus rose more than 2% early on Friday.
But the company’s net orders – which are adjusted for cancellations – remain in negative territory for the first quarter, with a total of minus 61 net orders dominated by a Norwegian cancellation unveiled in the previous month.
The brisk pace of deliveries confirms report that the world’s largest plane maker was poised to match or even eclipse the 122 deliveries seen in the first quarter of last year after a surge in March.
The data issued late on Thursday highlighted a trend of buyers upgrading orders for the 150-seat A320neo to the larger A321neo, which can seat more than 200 passengers – a segment in which Airbus has been strongly outselling US rival Boeing.