Transportation

Oil Surge May Drive Airlines to Buy New Jets, Airbus Says

Airbus is already targeting record aircraft deliveries in 2026.

Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images 

As the war with Iran continues to push oil prices higher, airlines could look to accelerate the retirement of older aircraft, potentially benefiting planemakers Airbus SE and rival Boeing Co.

“If fuel prices go up, there will be an incentive to buy the latest and greatest aircraft,” Wouter van Wersch, executive vice president of Airbus’ international business, told Bloomberg on Tuesday at Latin America’s main aerospace exhibition in Chile.