New Airbus Order In The Works

A new Airbus aircraft order is in the works with Middle East Airlines, Lebanon’s national carrier, as the airline looks to deepen its business in the coming years.

As part of a possible new contract in a bid to capitalise on rising demand, Middle East Airlines is in close talks with Airbus to place an order for what would likely consist of two aircraft types.

To ensure all bases are covered, the airline is seeking not just narrowbody A320neo family jets but also a couple of widebody aircraft, likely from the A330neo family, according to sources close to local media.

This deal, however, remains in its infancy and may not go through; it is of strong interest to the airline as it seeks to evolve in the coming years.

Away from being strictly a new commitment directly with Airbus as a planemaker, the airline is also seeking to open discussions with lessors to secure additional aircraft at a likely faster rate than waiting for jets solely from Airbus.

Airbus Aircraft Continue To Sell Out

Much of the pressure to buy planes now doesn’t just stem from the requirement to meet rising demand but also from aircraft programs that are selling out rapidly, with a backlog comfortably in excess of 5,000.

With the backlog equivalent to nearly 10 years of production, with annual deliveries needing to increase and remain stable sharply, the bulk of the problem is felt across the A320neo family, where over 6,000 aircraft are part of this backlog, followed by strong orders for even the A350 and A330neo.

The unprecedented surge in demand, fueled by the post-pandemic recovery, has only intensified, and these fuel-efficient planes, critical to meeting rising global demand, are pressuring airlines to lock in new deals now before slots vanish in the 2030s.

Pratt & Whitney engine shortages have cramped Airbus’ rate rises to meet growth, with analysts citing the two years’ worth of stock being repeatedly sold over a 12-month window, causing sustained pressure on all fronts.

While not every airline may be positioned to make a financial commitment to new planes, the risk of missing out entirely is too high. As such, deals must be struck to ensure that deliveries can continue into the next decade, when capacity is expected to rise further.

Airlines like Middle East Airlines are attempting to get in now, sooner rather than later, to ensure they have the planes when they need them most.