Transportation
Older Jets and Pricier Flights Define a Lost Decade for Aviation
- Carriers are being forced to fly their older jets for longer
- Boeing’s strike, Airbus supply bottlenecks extend shortages
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Years of aircraft delays from Boeing Co. and Airbus SE are cascading through the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to curb expansion plans and keep their old and inefficient jets on expensive life support.
United Airlines Holdings Inc. has redrawn its fleet plans this year, and the carrier said this month that tardy deliveries from both planemakers have put pressure on costs. Budget airlines in Europe and the US have meanwhile rolled back growth targets, while long-haul flyers like Cathay Pacific Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa AG are struggling to find alternatives to Boeing’s 777X, now five years overdue with its arrival pushed back to 2026.