DUBLIN—The world’s two largest planemakers defended themselves on Tuesday following criticism over delivery delays, with a Boeing executive saying increasing production after COVID-19 lockdowns was “not as easy as an on/off switch.”
Aircraft leasing firms have used a major industry conference to hammer manufacturers over delays. Air Lease executive chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy said they had “grossly misjudged” output, while one of Airbus’ largest customers, AerCap, called the European firm’s production targets “very ambitious.”
Mark Pearman-Wright, head of leasing and investor marketing at Airbus, said ramping up production had been more difficult than expected but that a range of unpredictable issues had not changed its route to producing 65 narrow-body jets a month in 2024 and 75 aircraft in 2025….