Textron anticipates higher production from its aeronautical units this year as the aviation market recovers, in part due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
General manager Scott Donnelly, speaking on a full-year revenue call Jan.27, said they expected turboprop and jet deliveries to increase by 2021. Its Textron division Aviation owns the Cessna and Beechcraft brands.
While he doesn't anticipate a return to 2019 levels this year, Donnelly said he expects to "come back halfway in terms of new aircraft and aftermarket volume."
That will represent a total of approximately 165 deliveries for this year, supported in part by the first deliveries of the Cessna SkyCourier utility turboprop scheduled for the second half of this year. All three planes are now in the certification program, he said, and have accumulated more than 400 flight hours.
A full recovery is expected in 2022, he said. Last year, Textron Aviation delivered 132 Cessna jets and 62 King Air turboprops - including the first new King Air 360 - down from 2019 figures 206 and 93, respectively.
Donnelly's optimism was driven by higher activity levels among business jet operators, who have recovered from the coronavirus decline faster than their commercial aviation counterparts.
“Aeronautics activity has recovered quite strongly. “The months of November and December in the United States flew over a year ago,” he said, while noting that it was mainly for vacation rather than for travel. 'business.
Low levels of second-hand goods inventories also indicate a relatively strong market, he said.
The higher level of activity on business flights is partly explained by the reduction of routes by airlines in response to weaker demand.
As the economy begins to recover and travel restrictions are relaxed, he said, business travelers will start flying again.
And with commercial aviation links suspended, "for someone moving from a small airport area to a trip that will take them to another small airport area with fewer flights - to get through the hub, it's a day. [complete].
“It's very difficult with this lower schedule. And I think health is also part of it. People are more comfortable getting on a plane with themselves or with their family than on a commercial plane. "
Textron Aviation saw its revenues drop to $ 3.9 billion in 2020, from $ 5.1 billion a year earlier. Profits fell to $ 16 million from $ 449 million, pushed down due to nearly $ 200 million in one-time costs related to plant closures and a reduction in the number of employees.
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