Airlines with the largest order backlogs today and in 2014
As we commence 2025, the story is that every airline is desperate for new aircraft to meet growth or to replace older aircraft, or both. Many have very ambitious expansion plans. It seems an opportune moment, then, to consider how often airlines achieve goals for rapid expansion, and the factors that might help realise their dreams. For this analysis, the fleet and backlog data includes passenger single-aisles and twin-aisles, from all manufacturers. The airlines with the largest backlogs today are shown and then contrasted with the position a decade ago. They are a mixture of the largest carriers, with a higher share of replacement demand, and airlines in fast-growing developing countries. As at the end of 2024, there were 13,800 aircraft on order for airlines, compared to a total fleet of 23,600 passenger aircraft. Therefore the backlog-to-fleet ratio is around 0.58:1. Note that the order total includes just over 1,000 aircraft that are for unannounced airline customers, many of which are likely destined for Chinese carriers and lessors. Ten years ago, the fleet stood at 17,300, with a firm backlog of 10,300 aircraft. The ratio was therefore almost identical to today, at 0.59:1.
As we commence 2025, the story is that every airline is desperate for new aircraft to meet growth or to replace older aircraft, or both. Many have very ambitious expansion plans. It seems an opportune moment, then, to consider how often airlines achieve goals for rapid expansion, and the factors that might help realise their dreams. For this analysis, the fleet and backlog data includes passenger single-aisles and twin-aisles, from all manufacturers. The airlines with the largest backlogs today are shown and then contrasted with the position a decade ago. They are a mixture of the largest carriers, with a higher share of replacement demand, and airlines in fast-growing developing countries. As at the end of 2024, there were 13,800 aircraft on order for airlines, compared to a total fleet of 23,600 passenger aircraft. Therefore the backlog-to-fleet ratio is around 0.58:1. Note that the order total includes just over 1,000 aircraft that are for unannounced airline customers, many of which are likely destined for Chinese carriers and lessors. Ten years ago, the fleet stood at 17,300, with a firm backlog of 10,300 aircraft. The ratio was therefore almost identical to today, at 0.59:1.