Airbus Confused By Boeing’s New Aircraft

Airbus’ CEO, Guillaume Faury, has offered his thoughts and a rather bemused stance on the progress of Boeing’s next commercial airplane, which will rival its own A320 successor.

With Airbus having locked in a plan and timeline for the launch of its own successor to the popular single-aisle family, it is a contrast to its competitor.

In a tell-all interview with Aviation Week, Faury answered questions on a range of topics, including shedding more light on its next commercial airplane, expected to launch in 2030, with an EIS in the second half of the 2030s.

Airbus Is Committed To Its Next Plane

Faury said that Airbus is past the stage of simply considering its next new-generation narrowbody. That work is now underway to define exactly what the next iteration of the business will be.

Therefore, that stance of wanting it, and this being the view for years, means a timeline has been defined that allows a pathway to reveal the successor to the A320. While still some time away, the industry works heavily in advance, years passing by at a moment’s notice and decisions having to be made far earlier than the average business.

Preparation is one of the most integral areas to focus on; if you do not prepare, you will fail, and you should be prepared to fail if many angles are not covered as thoroughly as possible.

This type of language from Faury aligns very closely with the current dialogue out of his planemaker, that being key research and technology programmes being established, and the comparison of aircraft structures for wings, fuselages and most critically, the propulsion systems to support the nicknamed eAction narrowbody.

At Airbus, the next single-aisle is inevitable, and for Boeing, it would be much the same. However, Airbus is in a much more stable and, as it would argue, forward-thinking public position, with work picking up to put the systems in place for success.

Boeing’s Stance On A New Plane

When it was suggested to Faury that Boeing may not feel the same urgency for the successor in the single-aisle frame because the 737 MAX is selling so well, and that means they should’ve moved, it was met with “I like this thinking.” So much is being said in so few words.

It’s a rational viewpoint, not acting on a replacement when your current product line is advancing so fast, meaning less pressure to announce a new programme, especially one that’s costly, given the planemakers’ still-ongoing recovery across the 2020s.

However, the comments also show some thought in the comfort that Boeing has, possibly the risks associated with delaying the MAX for another decade, a gamble if you will. That comes as Boeing is in the early stages of its own 737 successor study, with reporting pointing to concept work, early discussions, and a similar mid- to late-2030s timeline, but no firm dates.

Faury said, “Maybe the other should have done something differently in the past. I don’t know what they are thinking.” From Airbus’ perspective, Boeing is somewhat comfortable with the MAX. At the same time, it examines the future. Airbus has a much firmer plan, has locked down timelines, and is speaking publicly about the next generation of narrowbodies.

That doesn’t mean Boeing doesn’t know its next plane isn’t important. Also speaking with Aviation Week in a separate interview, Boeing said the 737 successor was the more likely route than an NMA-type design. However, Boeing also has a lot on its plate as it recovers.

A new jet will be absolutely critical for the business moving forward. However, it said it will not be rushed and will base its decisions on what the market wants rather than competitors’ movements. Additionally, it needs to ensure that whatever it puts out is safe, game-changing, and worth investing in.

Why Is Airbus Confused?

Airbus seeing Boeing maybe being more hesitant to move with its new plane is something the manufacturer welcomes; it gives them the space to shape what their next-generation jet will be in their own time, without as much pressure or the need to force a reaction.

When Airbus pounced on the narrowbody scene with its simple A320neo, Boeing panicked; it had nothing ready, and the 737 MAX came. This was a rushed move to avoid ceding ground to its competitor, which ultimately led to quality slips and a rushed certification that came back to bite.

Now that the next iteration of Airbus is planned, it has a timeline and is working methodically to prepare for the decision. If Boeing therefore chooses to sit on its strong MAX backlog, or is delayed in the release, the European manufacturer likes that, because it believes its discipline now will pay off later.

Airbus isn’t confused about its next new plane, but is certainly uncertain about how its biggest competitors are moving, as the most expensive production decision and most pivotal for the next half-century is currently being made.