Continue its activity while avoiding customers to move to its sites in the midst of a coronavirus epidemic. This is Airbus’s approach with its electronic aircraft delivery process.





This ensures "the continuation of the delivery flow of Airbus aircraft, while integrating health and safety requirements" and that customers, who cannot travel in particular due to border closings, can sign the documents of delivery, explains in a press release the European aircraft manufacturer. A significant portion of the aircraft is payable on delivery. Airbus delivered 122 aircraft in the first quarter. Another 60 were produced but could not be delivered due to the epidemic.



Half of current deliveries affected A virtual platform, dubbed “e-Sales Contracts”, allows “to be able to maintain the business, to be able to sign the planes without having a physical presence of the signatories”, explained Alain Vilanove, vice-president in charge of contractual deliveries. This procedure allows the electronic transfer of the title deed in a secure way in place of the traditional and formal "signing ceremony". Set up about 15 months ago, it has since involved nearly 50 deliveries and half of the deliveries currently, according to Alain Vilanove.



Handing over an aircraft to a customer is a cumbersome process, which takes three to four days for a medium haul and eight to ten days for a widebody. It relates first of all to the technical acceptance of the aircraft (TAC) tasks which include in particular the inspection of the aircraft on the ground, any “minor cosmetic alterations” and the acceptance test flight, according to the aircraft manufacturer.















Despite border closures