Traveling aircraft is considered for the safest way covering large distances. Statistically speaking, traveling to the airport is more dangerous for travelers than alone flight. But when the plane is disaster, as was the case last week in the case of 171 Air India flight, it is impossible to rely only on statistics. 269 people were killed, including 241 out of 242 aircraft passengers. They lost their lives in the first total a plane crash Boeing 787-8.
No matter how terrible such an accident isits consequences are also far -reaching in economic termsm. In addition to economic efficiency and environmental friendliness, security is a decisive argument during the sale of passenger aircraft.
Airbus on the lead
American concern For decades he was a leading supplier in civil aviation. However, in recent years, interests have not been going so well and the concern has often recorded losses. In 2024, Boeing, employing about 170,000 employees, recorded an operational loss of almost EUR 11 billion, with revenues of E 66.5 billion dollarswhich corresponds to EUR 57.8 billion.
At that time, the European manufacturer of Airbus aircraft based in the Dutch city of Lejda overtook Americans in the passenger aircraft segment. He generated operating profit of around EUR 5 billion in the same period, employing around 160,000 employees and reaching an annual turnover of EUR 69.2 billion. Also, the numbers regarding the supply of passenger aircraft speak for themselves: Europeans are on the lead and continue to increase their advantage.
However, the information value of data on the production and sale of aircraft for civil aviation is limited. Both companies also operate in the space sector and are weapons producers. This makes the comparison of both companies generally difficult.
Bad luck and failures
The Air India plane crash is just the latest dark spot in Boeing statistics. In recent years, the American company has made one mistake after another, it had to deal with one slip -up after the other and has experienced failures many times.
The best example of this adverse trend – especially compared to Airbus – There is service to the largest aircraft in the company's portfolio. In the case of Airbus it was A380, the largest passenger aircraft in history. Airports around the world had to adapt the infrastructure to support this gigantic aircraft, because the terminals and reloading abilities were simply insufficient.
When it became clear that for many A380 airlines it was too large, Airbus ended its production in 2021. This great plane was too expensive due to two additional engines. In addition, aircraft with such a large number of places (from 500 to 850) are difficult to completely fill, and thus they were often used in an unprofitable way.
From Dreamliner to aircraft
It was different in the case of Boeing. When the concern ended the production and sale of the legendary Jumbo Jeta 747, the answer to the A380 Airbus was the offer competitive aircraft flying over long distances. To this end, the further development of the 767 model was focused, creating a new aircraft – 787, called “Dreamliner”. However, instead of becoming a dream plane, the new machine turned out to be a nightmare. Almost everything went wrong.
While Airbus almost Disinced the A380 silently from its offerDreamliner brought Boeing negative press headlines. There were difficulties with the new ones with materials composite and problems with communication with suppliers. Test flights had to be canceled, the first flights were postponed several times, and the delivery dates could not be met. Ultimately, flight bans occurred in 2013, when the first models were already in use, because due to batteries problems there were fires on board two aircraft.
Dispute about subsidies
The competition between both air concerns has been going on continuously since the establishment of the Airbus in 2000 (then under the name EADS). Even the World Trade Organization and governments in Washington and Europe were involved in the fight to take over the position of the leader on the market.
The point of severity of the dispute are state subsidies and the issue that the concern receivesj. There is also no clear answer to whether they are justified or not. Because while in USA Only one federal government is involved, in Europe there is talk of many pages: including the Netherlands and Great Britain, France, Spain, Germany and the European Union.
In addition, both companies compete not only in the industry airbut also in industry cosmicand, above all, in the defense industry. They do not belong to the world leaders: Boeing is in sixth place among the largest defense companies, very clearly ahead of Airbus, which was not in the “top ten” (13th place). But they are certainly big players.
The problem is that they are as reinforcing companies largely dependent on government orders. Governments are commissioned not only by research and development, but are also their most important clients. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the value of the subsidy or assign them to specific areas of activity.
Where is the competition?
The manufacturer of Embraer aircraft from Brazil focuses on small machines, On the other hand, Bombardier from Canada currently serves only the niche market of business jet.
However, one of the largest air markets in the world There are Chinawhere a major aircraft manufacturer was created: Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd., in short Comac. This company was founded, among others, by the Chinese government in 2008 RW Shanghai. In 2015, the first copy of the C919, the first two -engine passenger aircraft fully assembled in China, was presented. Together with the Russian Aviation and Purchasing Company, Oak Comac plans to build a version of the aircraft for long distances by 2028 – C929. At least until then, competition on the market of large passenger aircraft will remain limited to the main players from the United States and Europe.