IATA: Aircraft delivery delays will continue to impact airlines until 2025
The aeronautical sector is facing an unprecedented crisis that is testing the patience of airlines. Visit delivery delays from aircraft giants such as Boeing and Airbus continue to disrupt the market. As a result, the International Air Transport Association, more commonly known as the IATA, projects that these delays will continue to influence airline operations until at least 2025. These delays, which impact airlines' ability to renew their fleets, have repercussions on route planning, fuel consumption and the sector's overall carbon footprint.
Impact of delivery delays on airlines
The lack of new, more fuel-efficient aircraft is exacerbating the pressure on airlines to minimize their environmental impact. For some time now, voices have been raised in the sector, claiming that this has gone on for far too long, and that the lack of timely deliveries is taking its toll on the industry. The low availability of spare parts makes the situation even worse, preventing companies from fully exploiting even existing fleets.
The economic impact is also significant. A few examples, Lufthansa could lose up to 500 million euros a year due to these delays. This scenario highlights the extent to which delivery delays can affect not only a company's profitability, but also its ability to respond effectively to the growing demand for flights. You can read more about the impact of this problem here : Lufthansa and delivery delays.
A route planning problem
Due to the difficulty of acquiring new aircraft, route planning is becoming increasingly complex. The lack of modern aircraft not only limits the ability to meet demand, but also places restrictions on the distances and routes airlines can fly. This complexity is compounded by the increasing number of conflict zones around the world, making planning even more difficult.
Airline responses to delays
Faced with these challenges, airlines are becoming increasingly proactive. Some companies even openly criticize manufacturers to encourage improvements. Emiratesfor example, recently expressed its dissatisfaction with Boeing over the persistent delays of the Boeing 777X. On a global scale, actions are being taken to increase pressure on manufacturers to speed up solutions. To find out more about the airlines' response : Flight delays, a frequent inconvenience for travellers.
Consequences for passengers
The lack of new aircraft has a direct impact on passengers. Flight delays and cancellations are becoming increasingly frequent, a phenomenon also exacerbated by shortcomings in air traffic control in Europe. In 2023, Europe experienced a record year in terms of flight delays, resulting in increased discontent among travelers. You can read more about this growing problem here: A record year for flight delays in Europe.

Impact of Aircraft Delivery Delays on Airlines up to 2025
Aspect | Anticipated Impact |
Expansion capacity | Limited by the lack of new aircraft |
Fleet availability | Reduce the number of possible operations |
Carbon footprint | Affected by the absence of less-polluting aircraft |
Customer satisfaction | Risk of growing discontent |
Profitability | Possible financial losses |
Parts availability | Inadequate equipment maintenance |
Network planning | Complicated by fleet constraints |
Sales strategies | Need for revisions |
Sector growth | Lower than forecast |
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