Airliner sales review

Flight International has published its World Airline Survey 2013.  This compilation is in conjunction with Ascend Online, both part of Reed Business Aviation.

What is evident is that the Airbus A320 (5,171 in service) series is catching up with the many variants of the Boeing 737 (5,436) and may overtake that aircraft in the next 12 months as the Dash 200 and offspring are consigned to scrap.

The Boeing 777 (1,093) is the king of the wide bodies and one reason is its huge under floor (belly) capacity, the 300ER double that of the 747-400.

Once it was level pegging with the turboprops but the ATR 72 has outsold the Q400 503 v 390 operational at this time.  Bombardier is also second best when it comes to regional jets, 918 E series against 724 CRJs.

It may surprise readers to learn that there are still 535 Boeing 747-400s in service and 298 fuel guzzling A340s.  There are no details for the Britten Norman Islander but 1,250 were built and there are still many operating at military wings and police forces all around the world.  Remaining on airline duty today are 101 Avro RJs and 75 BAe 146. www.flightglobal.com

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