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

UK project to beam power from the ground to PHASA-35 in bid for year-round stratospheric flight
PHASA-35
UK project to beam power from the ground to PHASA-35 in bid for year-round stratospheric flight
Space Solar will develop a 5.8 GHz wireless power system for PHASA-35 under a £1.3m ARIA project aimed at enabling year-round stratospheric flight.
Aerospace Space

17 Sep 2026

Record-breaking August rounds off Stansted’s busiest ever summer
Stansted Terminal Security entrance.
Record-breaking August rounds off Stansted’s busiest ever summer
Whilst welcoming over 100,000 passengers on every day of August, London Stansted Airport achieved its busiest ever day, month and summer on record.
Aerospace

16 Sep 2026

UK MOD accelerates low-cost drone turbojet development with Alloyed
Image: MOD Crown Copyright
UK MOD accelerates low-cost drone turbojet development with Alloyed
A new UK-developed turbojet engine has reached flight-ready status in less than seven months, highlighting the potential of advanced manufacturing to accelerate defence propulsion.
Aerospace Defence Test

16 Sep 2026

British Army partners with QinetiQ on AI system to inspect body armour 15 times faster
AI-backed rapid radiography equipment
British Army partners with QinetiQ on AI system to inspect body armour 15 times faster
QinetiQ is to train new AI-backed rapid radiography equipment for the British Army, designed to ensure the structural integrity of body armour.
Defence

17 Sep 2026

Why Canada is joining the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force after a 12-year wait
HMCS Margaret Brooke by The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Why Canada is joining the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force after a 12-year wait
Canada is poised to become the 11th member of the UK-led coalition after previously declining to participate, deepening defence cooperation across the Arctic, North Atlantic and Northern Europe.
Defence

17 Sep 2026

RAF tests NATO air power in UK’s largest homeland defence exercise
EX COBRA WARRIOR German Air Force Typhoons Landing at RAF Cranwell for exercise Cobra Warrior. Exercise Cobra Warrior 2026-1 is a Royal Air Force Led exercise where several NATO nations operate together in order to improve their air integration capabilities. Many RAF Bases take part in the flying element of exercise Cobra Warrior, such as RAF Waddington, Marham, Coningsby and United States Air Force (USAF) bases at RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall. Exercise Cobra Warrior takes place over 4 weeks, This allows each nation to train in all environments and learn to overcome the challenges that they are faced with. Royal Air Force Cranwell is currently accommodation the German Air Force with EF-2000 EuroFighter jets. .Images by Andrew Wheeler CPhot(Chartered)
RAF tests NATO air power in UK’s largest homeland defence exercise
The RAF has launched Cobra Warrior 26-2, bringing together UK and NATO aircraft to test homeland defence, interoperability and combat readiness.
Defence

17 Sep 2026

UK project to beam power from the ground to PHASA-35 in bid for year-round stratospheric flight
PHASA-35
UK project to beam power from the ground to PHASA-35 in bid for year-round stratospheric flight
Space Solar will develop a 5.8 GHz wireless power system for PHASA-35 under a £1.3m ARIA project aimed at enabling year-round stratospheric flight.
Aerospace Space

17 Sep 2026

Teledyne imaging sensors launch on ESA’s Sentinel-3C and FLEX Missions
ESA's FLEX
Teledyne imaging sensors launch on ESA’s Sentinel-3C and FLEX Missions
The two European Space Agency (ESA) climate-monitoring missions will provide observations of Earth’s oceans, land surfaces and vegetation, using optimised hyperspectral imaging technology from Teledyne Space Imaging.
Space

17 Sep 2026

Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Open Cosmos
Harwell-based Open Cosmos secures €300m to scale sovereign satellite production
Harwell-based Open Cosmos has raised €300m to expand satellite manufacturing and space-based intelligence as the UK strengthens sovereign capability.
Defence Space

16 Sep 2026

MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
MSI-DS unveiled the TERRAHAWK RAPTOR during the opening day of DVD2026 on 16 September 2026. This RWS is optimised for C-UAS operations. Image: MSI-DS
MSI-DS launches TERRAHAWK RAPTOR mobile counter-drone weapon station
The new TERRAHAWK RAPTOR remote weapon station is designed for integration across tracked and wheeled platforms, including 4x4 vehicles and UGVs, as MSI-DS targets growing demand for mobile C-UAS capability.
Defence Security

16 Sep 2026

UK recruits hundreds of officers in £500bn money laundering crackdown
Home Office
UK recruits hundreds of officers in £500bn money laundering crackdown
Following National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that over £100 billion is laundered through UK or UK corporate structures each year, 500 officers will target money laundering networks linked to organised crime, building on Operation Destabilise.
Security

16 Sep 2026

Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub at RAF Wyton
Defence and industry open collaboration hub at RAF Wyton
The new FAIRFAX Collaboration Hub has been opened at RAF Wyton by defence and industry partners, marking a key step in its growth as the UK's intelligence hub.