With the upcoming order from EVA Air for 18 Airbus A350-1000s, the European long-haul airline is no longer far from 250 firm sales and the symbolic milestone of 300 sales could well be crossed by the end of 2023.
The Airbus A350-1000 is catching up with the Boeing 777X
While the Boeing 777X sales counter remains stuck at 360 copies for years now, that of the Airbus A350-1000 has just experienced a clear acceleration since the start of 2023. After falling to only 140 copies at the end of January 2023, sales of the A350-1000 picked up with the return of Qatar Airways (23 examples reinstated after being canceled), then successive orders from Lufthansa (10), Philippine Airlines (9), Air India (34) and Air Algérie (2). At the end of October 2023, total sales had increased to 226 and are preparing to approach 250. The Airbus A350-1000 is catching up with the Boeing 777X.
EVA Air wants 18 copies
Especially since this total sales is about to approach 250 copies. In stock market documents, the Taiwanese airline EVA Air recently indicated its decision to order 18 Airbus A350-1000s alongside a certain number of A321neos. The first will be used to replace part of the current fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs, around thirty aircraft, some of which have less than eight years of operation. Now it remains to complete the order. The Airbus A350-1000 already has a customer in Taiwan: Starlux.
The milestone of 300 sales could be reached by the end of 2023
The next Dubai Airshow could well be the opportunity to reach, or even slightly exceed, the symbolic milestone of 300 firm sales. The needs expressed by Emirates certainly include the A350-1000, but other Boeing 777-300ER operators could also take the plunge by the end of 2023.
