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

Cyprus Airways announces launch of flights to London Stansted Airport from April 2027
A Cyprus Airways Airbus A320 aircraft at Tallinn Airport.
Cyprus Airways announces launch of flights to London Stansted Airport from April 2027
Cyprus Airways is expanding its network by launching daily flights between Larnaca and London Stansted Airport starting in April 2027.
Aerospace

25 Oct 2026

Why did the RAF’s Cold War V-bombers look so different?
Avro Vulcan
Why did the RAF’s Cold War V-bombers look so different?
Why did the RAF field three radically different strategic bombers? The answer lies in post-war procurement, technological uncertainty and the race to establish a credible British nuclear deterrent.
Aerospace

25 Oct 2026

Pakistan International Airlines bolsters UK network with Birmingham resumption and more London flights
Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777 landing
Pakistan International Airlines bolsters UK network with Birmingham resumption and more London flights
PIA will expand its network in the United Kingdom as it resumes flights to Birmingham and increases London Heathrow to 7x weekly.
Aerospace

24 Oct 2026

SubSea Craft to expand US manufacturing capabilities with GTS
SubSea Craft Portsmouth HQ
SubSea Craft to expand US manufacturing capabilities with GTS
SubSea Craft's latest collaboration with Global Technical Systems (GTS) will see it gain access to advanced testing and manufacturing capabilities in Virginia Beach, boosting delivery of its autonomous maritime systems across the US.
UK defence industry has 1,000 days to prepare for war, warns Defence Secretary
Aircraft maintenance technician apprentices at working on a Royal Air Force Chinook at Middle Wallop
UK defence industry has 1,000 days to prepare for war, warns Defence Secretary
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that Russia could be ready to attack NATO by 2030, giving the UK 1,000 days to boost military capabilities.
Defence

26 Oct 2026

Allen-Vanguard acquired by Operating Partners Group
Allen-Vanguard team at its new premises in Ottawa, Canada.
Allen-Vanguard acquired by Operating Partners Group
Defence investment specialist Operating Partners Group has acquired Allen-Vanguard, a provider of customised solutions for defeating Radio Frequency (RF) based threats.
ClearSpace and Eutelsat sign term sheet to advance Phoenix GEO life-extension services
Artificial rendering of Phoenix approaching a client satellite.
ClearSpace and Eutelsat sign term sheet to advance Phoenix GEO life-extension services
A new agreement between ClearSpace and Eutelsat has established a framework for cooperation on the Phoenix mission and future commercial life-extension services, bringing satellite operator expertise into the development of next-gen in-orbit servicing capabilities.
Member News Space

22 Oct 2026

UK Space Agency opens £2m fund to bring satellite data into new markets
Satellite
UK Space Agency opens £2m fund to bring satellite data into new markets
UK businesses can partner with space suppliers to test satellite-enabled environmental and emissions services, with applications closing on 11 December.
Space

21 Oct 2026

Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan
Aurora - Flight 61, Scout Space - High Altitude
Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan
Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace are exploring plans to bring reusable spaceplane operations to Newquay, with ambitions for twice-daily flights to the edge of space.
Aerospace Space

20 Oct 2026

SubSea Craft to expand US manufacturing capabilities with GTS
SubSea Craft Portsmouth HQ
SubSea Craft to expand US manufacturing capabilities with GTS
SubSea Craft's latest collaboration with Global Technical Systems (GTS) will see it gain access to advanced testing and manufacturing capabilities in Virginia Beach, boosting delivery of its autonomous maritime systems across the US.
Allen-Vanguard acquired by Operating Partners Group
Allen-Vanguard team at its new premises in Ottawa, Canada.
Allen-Vanguard acquired by Operating Partners Group
Defence investment specialist Operating Partners Group has acquired Allen-Vanguard, a provider of customised solutions for defeating Radio Frequency (RF) based threats.
Hostile states are exploiting public information. UK organisations must respond
Headshot for Jack Borthwick at Fivecast
Hostile states are exploiting public information. UK organisations must respond
Jack Borthwick, account director, EMEA, at Fivecast, argues that AI-enabled open-source intelligence can help organisations spot hostile activity earlier.
Security

24 Oct 2026