Airbus and Boeing have collectively accumulated a backlog of more than 120 passenger jets that had their first flights more than 60 days ago but are yet to be delivered to customers (excluding the grounded 737 Max).
The coronavirus crisis has presented unprecedented challenges both to the logistics of customer-acceptance processes for new aircraft and to the ability of airlines to finance unneeded fleet additions in the face of the collapse in passenger revenue.
Cirium fleets data show in 2019, an average of 60 days elapsed between the first flight of an Airbus twin-aisle aircraft and delivery, while the figure was only 24 days for Boeing widebodies. For narrowbodies Airbus registered an average of 17 days last year while Boeing achieved 26 days, prior to the suspension of the Max programme.
Topping the list of non-delivered aircraft so far in 2020 are four Hong Kong Airlines A330-300s which had their first flights between 650 and 900 days ago, in 2018. Vistara is meanwhile yet to receive four 787-9s that flew 300-400 days ago, in the second half of 2019.
The Airbus A320neo-family is the type with the most examples to have slipped beyond the 60-day threshold, with more than 50, although by contrast more than 400 Max aircraft have flown but are yet to be delivered, pending recertification.
