Aerospace News – Early July 2025
Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Commercial aircraft orders increased by almost 900% in May 2025 compared to the previous year, pushing the total aircraft backlog to a record 16,073, according to trade association ADS.
The data, compiled by the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space industries, estimates this backlog to be worth over £251bn in value to the UK economy while generating over 15 years’ worth of work for the UK’s extensive aerospace supply chain.
ADS’ data also reports that 303 aircraft orders were placed in May 2025 – up from 31 orders in May 2024 – the largest order intake for this calendar month within the past decade.
Australia’s Qantas Airways is set to become the Asia-Pacific launch operator of Airbus’s latest generation single-aisle A321XLR following the delivery of its first aircraft from the European aerospace giant’s assembly line.
Reflecting its long-range capability, the aircraft is flying from the Airbus plant in Finkenwerder, Hamburg, to Sydney with just one crew rest stop in Bangkok.
Altogether the Qantas Group has ordered 40 A321XLRs under its fleet modernisation programme, with 28 aircraft allocated to Qantas and 12 to low-cost subsidiary Jetstar.
These are part of the airline’s outstanding orders with Airbus for 128 single aisle aircraft and 24 A350-1000 widebodies.
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 20 more A330-900 aircraft. This new order will double Malaysia Airlines’ future A330neo fleet to 40 aircraft. The announcement was made during the official visit to France of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Anwar Ibrahim.
MAG first selected the A330neo (new engine option) in 2022 under its wide body fleet renewal programme, with a commitment for 20 aircraft, of which four have now been delivered. Featuring an all-new premium cabin layout, the aircraft are already operating on services from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne, Auckland and Bali.
