April saw steep drop in UK aircraft orders amid tariff uncertainty
Aircraft orders in the UK fell sharply in April marking the lowest April since the pandemic according to new data from ADS Group.
The data shows that just 19 new…
May 30, 2025
Aircraft orders in the UK fell sharply in April marking the lowest April since the pandemic according to new data from ADS Group.
The data shows that just 19 new aircraft were ordered during the month, a 70% decline compared to April 2024. ADS attributed the slowdown in orders last month to uncertainties linked to international tariffs and supply chain pressures.
On a more positive note, the figures also showed that despite the monthly slump, year-to-date orders remain strong at 540, almost 48% higher than the same period last year. Notably, 10 of the April orders were for wide-body aircraft, representing a 25% year-on-year increase in that category.
Additionally, it was a positive picture for aircraft deliveries, which numbered 102 in April (up 20% on the same month in 2024) marking the best April for deliveries since 2016. Wide-body deliveries also rose by 40% year-on-year, although single-aisle aircraft continue to dominate teh order book with deliveries and backlog accounting for 70-75% of each. A total of 374 year-to-date aircraft deliveries by April 2025 marks a new best since 2019.
As of the end of April, the industry backlog stood at 15,871 aircraft, equivalent to an estimated £248 billion in value to the UK. At current production rates, this represents approximately 14 years’ worth of work for the UK’s extensive aerospace supply chain.
According to Aimie Stone, chief economist at ADS, “April’s order book is a telling sign of industry confidence. The uncertainty caused by tariffs likely continues to delay order decisions, while aircraft manufacturers have begun to re-allocate aircraft to avoid immediate repercussions of custom duties.”
While the recent UK-US bilateral trade deal is expected to lead an exemption for US-based inbound aerospace parts, ADS anticipates the movement of goods will still be slowed down by customs activity and rising costs from increased paperwork and material costs due to the international nature of aerospace supply chains continuing to hamper growth.
Acknowledging that orders for April may also be suppressed ahead of planned announcements at next month’s Paris Air Show, Stone added: “Despite a positive delivery book and a stable backlog, it’s key that the UK Government provides further clarity on the exclusion of engines and aerospace components from these tariffs. Doing so would support UK competitiveness in the global aerospace market and restore some momentum seen in Q1.”
