The last newly built Boeing 747 has left the US airframer's widebody production facility in Everett, near Seattle. Boeing says the 747-8 Freighter will be delivered to US cargo carrier Atlas Air in early 2023. Some 1,574 747s have been built, across several model generations, since the aircraft's production began in 1967. It entered service in 1970. Boeing notes the 747's key role in building the company's standing in the aerospace sector. "For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent airplane that has truly changed the world," states vice-president and general manager 747 and 767 programmes Kim Smith. "We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come." Atlas, which had placed orders for the final four 747s in 2021, received the last but one aircraft in November and deployed it for logistics group Kuehne & Nagel under a long-term contract. The final 747 will operate under the same deal, Atlas says.

Asiana Airlines has switched its Airbus A350-1000 orders to the long-haul twinjet’s -900 baseline model. Airbus data shows that nine A350-1000 orders previously held by Asiana were added to the Korean carrier’s A350-900 backlog in November, which now stands at 30 units. Some 13 A350-900s have been delivered to Asiana so far. Korean Air is in the process of acquiring Asiana. Korean Air does not operate A350s. Both carrier's fleets include A330ceos and A380s. Other order changes disclosed by Airbus include the cancellation of a Croatia Airlines order for four A320neos placed in 2015. In October, the Balkan carrier revealed an order for six A220-300s and has since committed to lease a further nine of the type as part of a plan to operate a single-type fleet from 2026. The airline’s in-service fleet include A319ceos, A320ceos and De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 turboprops. IAG cancelled orders for six A320neos and two A321neos. However, Airbus in November booked orders from the airline group’s subsidiaries Aer Lingus and British Airways. Two A320neos were ordered by the Irish carrier, and four A320neos, plus two A321neos, by BA. Viva Air cancelled two A320neo orders. Another 20 A320neos are still on order for the Colombian airline. Aviation Capital Group switched one A320neo order to the A321neo.

Airbus has abandoned its target of delivering around 700 commercial aircraft in 2022 after it reached 68 deliveries in November, bringing the net number for the year so far to 563. The European airframer says that it considers the target “now to be out of reach” because of the “complex environment” it is operating in. Airbus predicts the final delivery number will not fall “materially short” of the target of “around 700”. But the company adds it will be “adjusting the speed of the A320-family ramp-up to rate 65 for 2023 and 2024” because the “complex environment will persist longer than previously expected”. Until now, Airbus had planned to reach 65 A320-family deliveries in early 2024. A further target of reaching rate 75 is being maintained, the airframer notes. Despite the lower deliveries, Airbus says it “remains committed to delivering its financial guidance” for 2022 in terms of adjusted EBIT and free cash flow. Full-year order and delivery data will be disclosed on 10 January and financial results on 16 February 2023. November deliveries comprised six A220-300s, 28 A320neos, 25 A321neos, two A330-900s, one A330-800, one A330-200 and five A350-900s. Airbus booked 29 orders in November. These comprised orders from Azul Finance for three A330-900s, CDB Leasing for two A320neos, Condor for six A321neos and four A320neos, Croatia Airlines for six A220-300s, Aer Lingus for two A320neos, and British Airways for two A321neos and four A320neos. Orders for 14 aircraft were cancelled, the airframer says.