Airbus Reveals Orders For 357 Aircraft

Airbus has wrapped up one of its busier months in recent times, with 357 gross orders booked in May as airlines scramble to secure aircraft for the future.

From record-breaking deals in Southeast Asia to China committing to more aircraft for its future, even European airlines got in on the act.

As delivery slots are snapped up into the 2030s, the availability of some of the most in-demand and versatile aircraft is being stretched thin.

A Month Of Orders Unlike Most

The tally for Airbus spans almost the entire portfolio of commercial aircraft, a positive sign for the planemaker in its attempts to show that all its models are performing, in demand, and have a strong business case.

At the smaller end of the scale, a fast-growing lessor in Azorra committed to six Airbus A220-300s, with the first arriving on 4 May 2026, and pitched to airlines continuing to look for a 100-150-seater plane that can bridge the gap between older regional jets needing replacement and larger narrowbodies.

Midmonth, Airbus reported an order for 20 A320neos and 50 A321neos. This is a sizeable order totalling 70 aircraft, but from an undisclosed customer. Thus, for the moment, the end point of the transaction remains anonymous.

China, which has been in desperate need of new aircraft, returned on 18 May for more aircraft, with China Southern Airlines adding 23 A320neos and 79 A321neos. This is another major order for the A320neo family, which continues to see its backlog grow faster than production.

Additionally, at the end of the month, Xiamen Airlines committed to 35 A321neos. This is yet another transaction that shows the pivot seen in recent months, as China has secured deals with Airbus and firmed up delivery slots, especially on the narrowbody side.

For Europe, the long-haul aspect of the Airbus portfolio featured on 19 May, with Lufthansa ordering a further 10 A350-900s as the Group continues to try to evolve its backlog and move away from its older quad-engined jets, while also ensuring there’s enough capacity to meet demand in the 2030s.

The A350F was included, with Cathay Cargo committing to two of the model, a commitment further supported by Air China Cargo, which also committed to the A350F again, with a purchase that firmed up existing options, totaling four aircraft.

Record-Breaking Order Steals The Show

It wasn’t any of the deals with China or in Europe that were the biggest or most noteworthy; rather, it was the headline deal in which AirAsia ordered 150 Airbus A220s, the largest order for the type in the program’s history.

What was more than just a small commitment to the regional jet, but more so a gamble on this being a jet that will redefine how it operates the 150 units, plus a nod to the possible A220-500 also being part of the future, unlocks an all-new layer to the airline’s network moving forward.

As more people move away from major cities and the population grows, the need to serve secondary cities will become increasingly important. As AirAsia enters this new era, moving away from widebodies following the cancellation of the A330neo order, the A220 provides an efficient platform to make these trips a reality.

Not just beneficial for AirAsia but for Airbus too, this type of transaction reshapes how the broader programme is perceived. With a further 150 jets added, it ensures production can be scaled and will continue deep into the future, also giving it a new flagship customer for many years to come.

When AirAsia takes delivery of the A220, it also gives Airbus the chance to show other airlines locally, or those attempting to offer similar secondary services, that there’s a great opportunity to leverage this series for maximum gain.