General Atomics

ADS sees signs of a stabilising aircraft market

Commercial aircraft orders grew by almost two thirds in February 2025 compared to February 2024 according to ADS, with 27 narrowbody aircraft ordered in February 2025, even though no wide body aircraft orders were placed.


 
Image by Ricardo / copyright Shutterstock

The latest commercial aircraft data from the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space trade association further highlights a sustained growth in aircraft deliveries, with 86 delivered in February 2025. The ADS dataset highlights 13% year-on-year growth in aircraft deliveries and the highest for the month since 2019.

ADS data reflects a stabilising market and a steadying backlog of 15,767 aircraft orders. While this still accounts for £255 billion and around 14 years’ worth of work, this marks a slow departure from the record backlog figures seen in recent years.

Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS commented on the figures: “February 2025 data is promising. Both orders and deliveries are showing steady albeit gradual improvement, indicating that market pressures – including workforce issues and regulatory hurdles – are gradually easing, as the deliveries of aircraft come through.

While the stabilising backlog will reassure investors, the absence of widebody orders this month could be a concern for UK manufacturers, given their exposure to the widebody market. This trend, if it continues, will need to be closely watched alongside growing demand for single-aisle aircraft.”

Related

CAA reveals participants in next round of Hydrogen Sandbox
CAA Aviation House, Crawley, Gatwick.
CAA reveals participants in next round of Hydrogen Sandbox
Three organisations have been chosen to take part in the third round of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Hydrogen Challenge, which over the past three years has supported projects developing solutions to transform flight through the safe introduction of hydrogen to fuel manned and unmanned aircraft.
Aerospace

5 Sep 2026

Skyports partners with Oita Prefecture to develop Advanced Air Mobility network
Skyports Oita MoU signing September 2026
Skyports partners with Oita Prefecture to develop Advanced Air Mobility network
Skyports Infrastructure has partnered with Oita Prefectural Government to explore routes, vertiport locations and future air taxi services ahead of a planned 2028 launch.
Aerospace Member News

4 Sep 2026

Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
Welsh flag
Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
According to new ADS data, Wales’ aerospace, defence, security and space industries contributed £2 billion to the economy in 2025, and supported more than 18,500 highly skilled jobs.
SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV modular payload cassette system
SSC MARS USV
SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV modular payload cassette system
The new payload cassette system for SubSea Craft's MARS USV is set to transforms payload integration for maritime operations.
Supacat begins building HMT Extenda vehicles for Czechia’s special forces
HMT
Supacat begins building HMT Extenda vehicles for Czechia’s special forces
Supacat has started production of 18 HMT Extenda vehicles for Czechia's special forces, with deliveries due to begin in 2027.
Defence Member News

4 Sep 2026

GM Defence appoints Simon Gray as its UK Director of Business Development
Simon Gray
GM Defence appoints Simon Gray as its UK Director of Business Development
GM Defence has appointed Simon Gray as Director of Business Development as it expands its UK presence and strengthens engagement with the MoD, Armed Forces and industry partners.
Defence Member News

4 Sep 2026

Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
Welsh flag
Wales aerospace, defence, security and space sectors add £2bn to economy
According to new ADS data, Wales’ aerospace, defence, security and space industries contributed £2 billion to the economy in 2025, and supported more than 18,500 highly skilled jobs.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Earth from space.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Open Cosmos is to provide secure communications to the UK Government’s Tactical Communications (TacSys) framework, with the company’s LEO constellation supporting UK ambitions to build a resilient sovereign network to avoid reliance on mega-constellations.
Serco awarded RAF Fylingdales early warning radar contract
RAF Fylingdales
Serco awarded RAF Fylingdales early warning radar contract
As part of the contract, a new software analytical tool developed by Serco - with the RAF and UK Space Command - is set to enhance RAF Fylingdales' detection and tracking system.
SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV modular payload cassette system
SSC MARS USV
SubSea Craft unveils MARS USV modular payload cassette system
The new payload cassette system for SubSea Craft's MARS USV is set to transforms payload integration for maritime operations.
BMT launches Maritime Autonomous Systems e-learning course
eFleet
BMT launches Maritime Autonomous Systems e-learning course
As autonomous technologies rapidly evolve and the autonomy skills gap widens, BMT's maritime autonomy specialists have developed a new e-learning course to cultivate broader understanding of autonomy beyond specialist engineering teams.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Earth from space.
Open Cosmos selected for UK satellite communications framework
Open Cosmos is to provide secure communications to the UK Government’s Tactical Communications (TacSys) framework, with the company’s LEO constellation supporting UK ambitions to build a resilient sovereign network to avoid reliance on mega-constellations.