General Atomics

Aircraft orders slump in November

According to ADS, a two thirds slump in aircraft orders has resulted in the worst November since 2020.

Image copyright Shutterstock

Commercial aircraft orders fell 65% in November 2024 to just 79, representing the lowest demand for aircraft in the month since 2020.

The latest commercial aircraft data from ADS, the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors further highlights a 55% decline fall in year to date aircraft orders.  

ADS notes that Aircraft deliveries are down 10% in the first eleven months of the year, primarily due to lagging widebody aircraft deliveries, which dropped by 25%.

The 98 aircraft delivered in November represents a sustained decline and for both the monthly and year-to-date figure, ADS notes the persistent influence of workforce issues and supply chain challenges on production.

The ongoing slowdown in deliveries has meant the commercial aircraft order backlog is 7% higher than in November 2023, at a saturated 15,822. This totals more than £250bn of value for the UK and represents more than a decade’s worth of work.

Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS said: “While November orders can be volatile, ongoing production challenges and workforce factors make this a disappointing month, as it suggests declining confidence in production capacity and increased uncertainty in demand.

“As anticipated, continuing delays in production have led to further volatility in aircraft deliveries. This trend will likely continue and make reaching the forecasted figure less feasible unless the typical December delivery push outperforms previous years. One hundred and ninety-two aircraft deliveries are required by the end of December to meet the ADS global delivery forecast of 1,165 aircraft.”

Related

Donite Plastics appoints Des Hassett as General Manager
Des Hassett
Donite Plastics appoints Des Hassett as General Manager
Experienced manufacturing professional Des Hassett, has been appointed General Manager for Donite Plastics, based at their Saintfield facility in County Down, Northern Ireland, to lead operations and enhance productivity.
ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
ADS Charity Cycle
ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
Industry riders covered 334 miles from Belfast to Bristol in support of Combat Stress, O2e and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
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

Donite Plastics appoints Des Hassett as General Manager
Des Hassett
Donite Plastics appoints Des Hassett as General Manager
Experienced manufacturing professional Des Hassett, has been appointed General Manager for Donite Plastics, based at their Saintfield facility in County Down, Northern Ireland, to lead operations and enhance productivity.
ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
ADS Charity Cycle
ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
Industry riders covered 334 miles from Belfast to Bristol in support of Combat Stress, O2e and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
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

ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
ADS Charity Cycle
ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
Industry riders covered 334 miles from Belfast to Bristol in support of Combat Stress, O2e and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
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

Metropolitan Police Force expands its fleet of crime-fighting e-bikes
Met Sur-Ron eBikes at New Scotland Yard
Metropolitan Police Force expands its fleet of crime-fighting e-bikes
As it continues to address the challenge posed by criminals using e-bikes and mopeds to commit crime and evade the law, the Metropolitan Police Force has substantially increased its own fleet of Sur-Ron e-bikes, to tackle the perpetrators.
Security

31 Aug 2026

ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
ADS Charity Cycle
ADS cyclists battle crashes, climbs and forest fires to raise over £5,000
Industry riders covered 334 miles from Belfast to Bristol in support of Combat Stress, O2e and Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.
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