A Tale Of Two Aerospace Rivals

"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..." in A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens may have contrasted Paris and London, but in the aerospace industry, a modern-day tale is unfolding in Seattle (Boeing's backyard) and Toulouse (an anchor for Airbus). And, unbelievably, this story of the marketplace rivals isn't fiction.

Airbus Delivering Strong Results

Airbus announced its earnings on Tuesday and delivered above analyst expectations for both revenues and earnings, posting a 22% year-over-year increase in net profit. Aircraft deliveries totaled 497 aircraft through the first three quarters or roughly an average of 55 per month. For Airbus to achieve its current forecast of 770 deliveries for the year, the company needs to dramatically pick up the pace in Q4 and deliver another 273 aircraft, or 91 per month.