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

Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures has chosen London for its first office outside the United States, with at least $100 million earmarked for UK and European defence technology start-ups.
Edinburgh Airport partners with Airportr for home and hotel baggage collection
Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport partners with Airportr for home and hotel baggage collection
Edinburgh Airport has introduced baggage collection through Airportr, allowing easyJet passengers to check in bags before arriving at the terminal.
Aerospace

16 Jul 2026

Intelligent Energy debuts heavy-lift hydrogen UAV powertrain 
Drone power train
Intelligent Energy debuts heavy-lift hydrogen UAV powertrain 
Intelligent Energy has introduced a 120kW hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for heavy-lift fixed-wing UAVs capable of carrying payloads of up to 750kg.
RAF awards Boeing £127m E-7 sustainment contract as first aircraft nears service
RAF E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft
RAF awards Boeing £127m E-7 sustainment contract as first aircraft nears service
The £127.5 million sustainment award will support around 180 jobs in Scotland as the first RAF Wedgetail completes final testing and a second aircraft begins flying.
Defence Insights Most Read

16 Jul 2026

RAF confirms GCAP will require sovereign boom refuelling capability
6th generation fighter Tempest being developed under the global combat air programme (GCAP)
RAF confirms GCAP will require sovereign boom refuelling capability
Britain’s sixth-generation fighter will use boom rather than probe-and-drogue refuelling, forcing the RAF to address a longstanding gap in its Voyager tanker fleet.
Defence Most Read

16 Jul 2026

Syensqo joins Team Cheyenne for US Army MV-75 programme
US Army MV-75 Cheyenne.
Syensqo joins Team Cheyenne for US Army MV-75 programme
Syensqo has joined Bell’s MV-75 Cheyenne supplier team, providing lightweight composite materials, adhesives and speciality polymers for the US Army’s next-generation tiltrotor.
Defence Member News

16 Jul 2026

ESA selects Keysight to develop 5G NTN anomaly detection
6G network
ESA selects Keysight to develop 5G NTN anomaly detection
Keysight will serve as the prime contractor, collaborating with Sateliot to support key technical development and satellite mission integration.
Member News Space

16 Jul 2026

Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures has chosen London for its first office outside the United States, with at least $100 million earmarked for UK and European defence technology start-ups.
ADS surpasses 2,000 member organisations for the first time
ADS at Farnborough International Airshow
ADS surpasses 2,000 member organisations for the first time
ADS has passed 2,000 member organisations for the first time, following a record year of membership growth across aerospace, defence, security and space.
UK defence SMEs unite under new Spearhead delivery collective
Spearhead SME member representatives
UK defence SMEs unite under new Spearhead delivery collective
Twenty-eight UK-owned defence and security SMEs have formed Spearhead, offering government and prime contractors access to specialist capability through one contract and one accountable delivery team.
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures
Lockheed Martin Ventures opens London office with $100m UK and Europe fund
Lockheed Martin Ventures has chosen London for its first office outside the United States, with at least $100 million earmarked for UK and European defence technology start-ups.
ADS surpasses 2,000 member organisations for the first time
ADS at Farnborough International Airshow
ADS surpasses 2,000 member organisations for the first time
ADS has passed 2,000 member organisations for the first time, following a record year of membership growth across aerospace, defence, security and space.