Review of 2023: Big orders and a return to pre-Covid travel levels
For the aviation and aerospace industries, 2023 has proven to be an eventful 12 months.
Demand for air travel broadly returned to pre-pandemic levels, and a series of large aircraft…
For the aviation and aerospace industries, 2023 has proven to be an eventful 12 months.
Demand for air travel broadly returned to pre-pandemic levels, and a series of large aircraft orders gave renewed confidence to OEMs about the state of the sector.
IATA ended the year confirming that globally, traffic is now at 98.2% of pre-Covid levels.
“People assign a high value to the freedom to travel. The strong demand we’ve seen all year confirms that. And aviation is committed to ensuring that people can continue to enjoy this freedom,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
Among the highlights in the calendar were the Paris Air Show and the Dubai Air Show; both of which served as platforms to unveil innovations and fostering collaboration within the global aerospace community.
At the former, Air India finalised a huge order for 470 planes from Airbus and Boeing, while Airbus announced a record 500-plane deal with fellow Indian airline IndiGo.
Emirates opened the Dubai Airshow 2023 with a significant order for 95 additional wide-body aircraft, taking its total order book to 295 aircraft.
Already the world’s biggest operator of wide-body passenger aircraft, Emirates committed to additional Boeing 777-9s, 777-8s, and 787s, worth $52 billion.
Throughout the year, the industry’s collective focus on sustainability remained front and centre. Manufacturers and airlines made significant strides in developing more fuel-efficient aircraft and exploring alternative propulsion systems.
Investments in electric and hybrid-electric propulsion, alongside advancements in the production and supply of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), showcased a concerted effort toward reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.
The year also saw increased collaborations between aerospace companies and technology innovators.
Partnerships aimed at enhancing connectivity, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence in aviation underscored a concerted effort to elevate safety, efficiency, and passenger experience.
The past 12 months have seen remarkable achievements and collaborations within the aviation and aerospace sectors, characterised by innovation, sustainability, and a shared vision for the future of flight. The Paris and Dubai Air Shows served as instrumental platforms, showcasing groundbreaking advancements and setting the stage for continued progress in the years to come.
Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter
