Aurélien Fleurot // Credits: REMY GABALDA / AFP 6:29 a.m., March 26, 2024
Boss Dave Calhoun announced Monday that he would leave at the end of the year as the American aircraft manufacturer accumulates technical problems. A situation which is not automatically favorable for Airbus. The boss of the Franco-German aircraft manufacturer is not happy about the setbacks of his American rival, because this could also have an impact on the entire aeronautical industry.
Boeing is changing direction. Boss Dave Calhoun announced on Monday that he would leave at the end of the year, before the end of his mandate, while the American aircraft manufacturer has been accumulating technical problems for several weeks. Could this situation logically benefit its direct competitor, Airbus? It is not so automatic according to many specialists and even the boss of the Franco-German aircraft manufacturer is not happy about the setbacks of his American rival, because this could also have an impact on the entire aeronautical industry.
The first observation is that Airbus is already operating just in time and would not be able to ramp up in the short term in the event of new orders. Beyond competition to gain market share, the consequences of Boeing's problems could impact the entire aeronautical industry, explains Eric Schulz, consultant and former commercial director of Airbus. "Boeing's setbacks call into question a lot of things regarding quality problems, certification problems with perhaps regulations that may change. In this environment, for a very long time, we have appreciated the stability which gives real depth of view on the possibility of responding to order books", he explains to Europe 1.
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Production lines impacted
Impacts on the entire production chain which, here too, can disrupt other French players. “Safran is of course the leading French player in aeronautics working on Boeing programs, and in particular on the 737. And so obviously, that has a strong impact. When the plane has setbacks, production rates drop,” says Eric Schulz. So far, Safran is doing well since it also supplies half of the engines for the Airbus A320 and is coming off a record year in 2023, with profits up 72%.
Finally, there is a long-term risk. If Boeing's problems persist and Airbus cannot recover all the orders, this could favor the arrival, in certain markets, of the Chinese competitor, COMAC with its C919 which seeks to gain ground on the buoyant medium-sized market. letters.