LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — US lessor Air Lease refuses to accept supply chain issues as an excuse for aircraft delivery delays, with executive chairman Steve Udvar-Hazy claiming that the problems faced by manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing are self-inflicted.

During the company's first-quarter briefing, Udvar-Hazy noted that as these companies increase production rates across single-aisle and long-haul ranges, in-service fleet operators face powerplant challenges.

Udvar-Hazy believes that delivery delays are "70-75% engine-related" but also attributes them to airframers ramping up production "too quickly" after scaling back during the pandemic. Air Lease CEO John Plueger insists that the company expects compensation for late deliveries, and argues that airframers "oversold compared to what they can deliver."

Both Airbus and Boeing have recently informed Air Lease of "additional" delays to 2023 and 2024 deliveries, and Plueger anticipates these delays to persist for several years. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged the supply chain problems during a May 3 briefing, emphasizing the need for suppliers to deliver on time to meet production demands.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun stated that significant supply-chain improvements aren't expected until "well into" 2024, but added that the company's visibility is improving daily. Despite the frustration caused by delivery delays, Air Lease's Plueger believes the scarcity issue enhances the value of the company's fleet and the deliveries it is receiving.