Aviation Investment Accelerates as Profits, SAF, and eVTOL Bets Take Off
Capital is flowing back into Aviation as airlines return to profitability, OEM backlogs swell, and sustainable fuels and eVTOL platforms attract fresh funding. Investors are eyeing long-cycle returns across fleets, infrastructure, and new mobility, even as supply chain and certification risks persist.
Aviation Investment Reaches Cruising Altitude
Global aviation is firmly back in growth mode, catalyzing a renewed wave of capital deployment across fleets, infrastructure, and next-generation platforms. Industry net profit is set to surpass $30 billion in 2024, according to the latest outlook from the International Air Transport Association IATA, with demand rising toward pre-pandemic peaks and yields normalizing. That profitability has emboldened carriers to restart multi-year capex cycles and sharpen balance sheets for strategic bets on sustainability.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) including Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer are seeing robust order activity and extended delivery slots, reflecting tight supply chains and persistent demand from network and low-cost carriers. Long-term demand remains resilient: Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook projects 42,600 new airplanes over 20 years, valued at roughly $8.4 trillion according to Boeing, while Airbus’ Global Market Forecast similarly anticipates more than 40,000 deliveries by 2042 industry reports show. For investors, that translates into visibility on cash flows for OEMs and engine makers such as GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, Safran, and Pratt & Whitney through service agreements and aftermarket revenue streams.
Dealmaking: From OEM Backlogs to eVTOL Bets
The deal pipeline is broadening across aircraft programs, advanced engines, and urban air mobility. Startups including Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Lilium, and Vertical Aerospace continue to attract strategic capital and airline partnerships as the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) space matures. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have aligned with eVTOL platforms through investments and operational partnerships—United with Archer, including a $10 million investment as reported by Reuters, and Delta with Joby, positioning for premium, time-saving airport transfers.
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