The aerospace industry continues to recover from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the main original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have increased their deliveries to airlines compared to last year. The supply chain is working to increase its capacity to support the expected rate increases in the short term and growing market demand in the coming years.  

The firm commitment to contribute to the decarbonization of the industry has continued to drive the diversification strategy of the Aciturri Aerostructures division, as well as its involvement in the development of projects based on alternative propulsion solutions that make it possible to achieve ambitious emission reduction targets. In this area, the company continues to work with customers such as Lilium, EVE, Deutsche Aircraft, and BOOM Supersonic on contracts already signed for the development of new mobility concepts based on electric propulsion or SAF (Sustainable Air Fuel).

The main advances in this area in 2024 include the consolidation of the relationship with Lilium with the delivery of the Lilium Jet fuselages needed for ground testing and the first flight, taking on the development, manufacture, and assembly of the complete component within very tight deadlines, as well as the industrialization of components for Deutsche Aircraft's D328EcoTM, a program in which, according to the established schedule, the necessary industrial resources have been developed and the precise manufacturing tests have been carried out to ensure the first deliveries in 2025.

Regarding the market's leading manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, the company has continued to collaborate with the aim of meeting their needs and addressing the ramp-ups in each of the programs in which it participates.

In relation to the European manufacturer, Aciturri has made the necessary efforts to optimize its A320-HTP production lines, ensuring the manufacturing and assembly industrial capacities and resources necessary to guarantee support at the maximum rates that the program plans to achieve.

About Boeing, the main milestone for the year was the development of the processes necessary to ensure the ramp-up of the B737 Rudder, in line with the program's growth strategy.

The company has also continued to promote its contribution to the development of other relevant programs in different segments. This is the case with Embraer, a customer to whom Aciturri has continued to deliver components in accordance with the commitments made in the Legacy and KC390 programs. In the latter case, and in accordance with Aciturri´s Design & Built responsibility, the team has also undertaken to make the changes required by the product to improve its performance.

In relation to Airbus Defense & Space (ADS), the team has completed the industrialization phase of its contracts for the F10X (development and manufacture of rudder and elevator and assembly of HTP and VTP spars). For the C295 aircraft, we continue to collaborate with ADS in providing the support they need for the launch of production lines in India.

Collaboration with Dassault has also continued, with significant progress in the industrialization process for the Design&Built contracts won by Aciturri on the F10X (tail cone and landing gear doors), with the aim of completing delivery of the first aircraft required for the maiden flight.

Finally, Aciturri's growth in the on-site services and MRO business on our customers' final assembly lines has led to the addition of new contracts, such as the one signed with Airbus Atlantic for on-site services for the A350 fleet on the Montoir de Bretagne and Toulouse lines, and the one awarded by Airbus for the retrofitting of part of the belly fairing on the entire A380 fleet, a total of 150 aircraft.

In terms of new contracts, it is worth highlighting the one signed with ADS for the industrialization and manufacture of structural components using additive technology for the SIRTAP (High Performance Remotely Piloted System) surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.