Rotorcraft market faces headwinds in first half of 2024
The rotorcraft market experienced a downturn in the first half of 2024, with a 5.1% fall in shipments to 428 deliveries compared with 451 in the same period last year, according to a second quarter 2024 aircraft shipment and billing report published by General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). This led to a 10.2% drop in billings to $1.9bn from $1.2bn in the corresponding period of last year.
This was primarily driven by a decrease in turbine deliveries, which fell 7.7% year-on- year (YoY) from 339 in the previous year to 313. While piston helicopter deliveries increased slightly by 2.7% YoY to 115 units, the overall market was impacted by lower demand for turbine-powered models.
Airbus Helicopters saw a decline in overall deliveries, with shipments of its popular H125 and H145 models falling by 12% and 16% to 47 units and 25 units, respectively. However, the company’s H160 medium-utility model saw a significant increase in deliveries, doubling from three units in the previous year to six.
Bell also reported a decline in deliveries, with a slight decrease across all its models. Leonardo experienced a modest decline in deliveries, with a 7% decrease from last year to 74 units in the first half of 2024. The Italian manufacturer’s AW119 and AW169 models saw declines of 27% and 60% to 26 units and 10 units, respectively.
Business jet market soars in 1H24
In contrast, the business aviation industry experienced a significant surge during the same period. Business jet deliveries increased by nearly 9% YoY, while total airplane billings soared by more than 24% to $11.3bn.
Among jet manufacturers, Gulfstream Aerospace led the way with a remarkable 35% increase in deliveries. The company’s large-cabin segment delivered 52 twinjets, 17 more than in the previous year, as it ramped up production of its recently certified G700. Dassault also saw a significant boost, delivering three more Falcon jets than in the first half of 2023.
Bombardier, Embraer Executive Jets, and Pilatus Aircraft also reported increases in jet deliveries. However, Textron Aviation, Cirrus, and Honda Aircraft experienced declines. Airbus and Boeing also made their first deliveries in the first half of 2024.
