Airlines negotiate far below simple list-price comparisons
Large campaigns involve confidential discounts, support packages, financing and performance guarantees. Published list prices are not a reliable measure of what a carrier pays.
Delivery slots are scarce production positions
Manufacturers can assemble only a limited number of aircraft each month. Popular models can therefore have delivery backlogs stretching for years.
Deposits and progress payments begin before delivery
Airlines usually commit cash in stages as the order advances. The payment schedule affects financing needs long before the aircraft enters service.
Configuration decisions are made well in advance
Cabin layout, seats, galleys, connectivity and many technical options must be frozen months before assembly. Late changes can be expensive or impossible.
Contracts address delays and performance
Airlines negotiate remedies for late delivery and may include guarantees around weight, fuel burn or other specifications. The exact clauses are commercially sensitive.
Options and purchase rights add flexibility
Carriers often secure the right to take additional aircraft later without placing a firm order immediately. These positions can be valuable when production is sold out.
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