General Atomics

Aircraft orders and deliveries rebound

Commercial aircraft orders grew 168% in January 2025 compared to January 2024, significantly exceeding the five-year average of 67, according to ADS.


 
Image 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 71 delivered in January 2025 marking the highest January delivery rate since 2019.  
 
The strong January order rebound signals a return of confidence among airline decision-makers, echoing trends seen in 2022 and 2023. Standing at 15,834 aircraft, the backlog represents up to £258 billion in value for the UK and more than a decade’s worth of work.
 
ADS data also highlights a 22% growth in aircraft deliveries in January 2025 compared to January 2024. Notably, over 90% of January deliveries were single-aisle aircraft, reflecting the ongoing demand for short-haul travel in the market.
 
Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS said: “The figures from January provide an encouraging outlook for 2025. While it’s important we remain cautious, increased delivery rates highlight the industry’s ongoing focus towards ramping up production.
 
“Following a year of challenges – from supply chain issues, labour shortages and a complex regulatory environment – 2025 shows signs of a much-awaited rebound for the sector.”
 
“For continued growth, global policy coordination, along with support from both the business community and governments, will remain crucial.”

Related

Windracers proves ULTRA in Ukraine, but Britain poses a different drone challenge
Windracers ULTRA drone flying in Wales
Windracers proves ULTRA in Ukraine, but Britain poses a different drone challenge
Three years of operations in Ukraine have helped Windracers adapt its autonomous aircraft at speed. Bringing those lessons home requires a balance between rapid development and peacetime safety.
Aerospace Defence Insights

29 Aug 2026

BAE Systems wins £5 million contract to keep BBMF Lancaster flying
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster in flight
BAE Systems wins £5 million contract to keep BBMF Lancaster flying
The aerospace group will provide specialist design and airworthiness support as PA474 undergoes an extensive overhaul at Duxford.
Aerospace Member News

28 Aug 2026

Discover Airlines sets sights on UK expansion
Discover Airlines A320-200
Discover Airlines sets sights on UK expansion
Lufthansa Group's leisure carrier, Discover Airlines, has its sights set on UK expansion, as it adds Bristol, Glasgow and Inverness to its network from summer 2027.
Aerospace

28 Aug 2026

Inside Babcock’s plans to turn the Type 31 into a four-ship hybrid task force
Babcock ARMOR Force four ship formation
Inside Babcock’s plans to turn the Type 31 into a four-ship hybrid task force
Babcock’s ARMOR Force would combine a Type 31 command ship with large uncrewed vessels carrying modular weapons and sensors. Sir Nick Hine says the technology has finally caught up with the concept.
Defence Insights

30 Aug 2026

Windracers proves ULTRA in Ukraine, but Britain poses a different drone challenge
Windracers ULTRA drone flying in Wales
Windracers proves ULTRA in Ukraine, but Britain poses a different drone challenge
Three years of operations in Ukraine have helped Windracers adapt its autonomous aircraft at speed. Bringing those lessons home requires a balance between rapid development and peacetime safety.
Aerospace Defence Insights

29 Aug 2026

Retired Air Vice-Marshal for the Royal Air Force Tom Burke joins GA-ASI
RAF Protector
Retired Air Vice-Marshal for the Royal Air Force Tom Burke joins GA-ASI
Retired RAF Air Vice-Marshal Tom Burke has joined General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), drawing on his military experience to support its current defence operations in the UK and lead on strategic market development.
Defence Member News

28 Aug 2026

Scottish space tech to power self-consuming rocket engine
Alpha Impulsion
Scottish space tech to power self-consuming rocket engine
Aurora Avionics is to supply crucial electronic systems that will deliver key electrical power functions for a pioneering new rocket engine, that aims to cut propulsion costs and support next-generation spacecraft.
Space

27 Aug 2026

STFC reveals latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows
space nebula
STFC reveals latest Ernest Rutherford Fellows
Backed by an investment of £6 million, seven early-career physicists have been awarded Ernest Rutherford Fellowship’s by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), supporting research, from the search for dark matter to the physics of black holes.
Space

25 Aug 2026

Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Enpulsion space propulsion manufacturer buys UK company lift me off
Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Austrian spacecraft propulsion manufacturer ENPULSION has agreed to acquire British specialist Lift Me Off, bringing together electric and chemical propulsion capabilities in a deal that will require UK Government approval.
Member News Space

21 Aug 2026

ZeroUSV unveils first of its new Oceanus17 USV
Oceanus17 class of USV
ZeroUSV unveils first of its new Oceanus17 USV
ZeroUSV’s brand new Oceanus17 class of unmanned surface vessel (USV) has been unveiled, officially named The Lady of the Lake, marking a key advance in the development of British autonomous maritime capabilities.
Defence Security

28 Aug 2026

Antare launches AI physical security platform
Security staff
Antare launches AI physical security platform
Using AI to automatically review footage from body-worn and fixed cameras, Antare's new security platform provides organisations with a complete picture across every shift and site, transforming unwatched camera footage into intelligence.
Security

28 Aug 2026

Manchester Airports Group reports cyber security incident
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airports Group reports cyber security incident
Manchester Airports Group has reported a cyber security incident involving customer data, amid growing concern over cyber attacks in the UK.
Aerospace Security

27 Aug 2026