Boeing is a successful aerospace manufacturer that was founded in 1916.
The American company has become one of the largest in the aerospace market.
The company is responsible for designing, manufacturing, and selling aerospace equipment.
Among the products that it sells include airplanes, rockets, satellites, missiles, and rotorcraft.
Its defense contract business is the second largest in the world.
The company has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, and serves territories worldwide.
One of its products has become the most famous aircraft in the world known as the jet.
The jet engine has become the industry standard.
Boeing is a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BA.
In 2020 the company posted total revenue of $58.16 billion and an operating income of $-12.76 billion.
The poor financial performance of Boeing in 2020 was due to the coronavirus pandemic which seriously affected the aerospace market.
Boeing’s Biggest Competitors
Boeing is one of the leading commercial aircraft manufacturers, which is the source of most of its income.
There are over 10,000 jets used for commercial use worldwide. The company manufactures the popular models 737, 747, 767, 777, and 787.
Alongside the commercial business, Boeing has a Boeing Business Jet range.
These are smaller jets aimed at wealthy individuals or corporations who need a private jet.
Boeing also drives revenue through defense contracts, space exploration, and security systems.
The company is responsible for designing, producing, and selling these products.
These products are used by the military, governments, and educational institutions.
Among its products aimed at the defense, space, and security sectors are the AH-64 Apache helicopter, the 702 satellite, CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, the KC-46 refueling aircraft, and Echo Voyager.
Let’s take a look at the companies that are Boeing’s competitors and alternatives:
- Airbus – A French company and the single largest airliner manufacturer.
- Lockheed Martin – Provides security, defense, and aerospace technologies worldwide.
- Raytheon Technologies Corporation – Following the merger of United Technologies and Raytheon, they are one of the leading aerospace and intelligence service providers.
Boeing Competitors: Airbus
Airbus is the top competitor for Boeing and has been steadily growing since its inception in 1970.
Airbus is the largest provider of aerospace products in Europe and second in the world behind Boeing.
The company is responsible for the design, manufacturing, and distribution of its products.
There are 133,000 employees working for Airbus in locations on every continent.
Airbus supply commercial aircraft and private jet and are well known for their double-deck aircraft the A380 which can carry 850 passengers.
The company is publicly traded on the Euronext N.V Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol Air.
The company reported total revenue of $85.750 in 2018 and it had an operating income of $6.130 billion.
The company is one of the top 10 patent-holders in the whole world.
This is thanks to their heavy investment in research and development which allows them to bring new technologies to market.
Boeing Competitors: Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an aerospace company that was the result of a merger between Martin Marietta and the Lockheed Corporation.
The merger was completed in 1995.
Its main contracts include the United States Defense Department and U.S Federal agencies.
Aeronautics is the companies main source of income which accounted for $21.2 billion worth of sales in 2018.
The company employees 105,000 people and operates in 50 countries around the world.
Lockheed Martin invests heavily in research and development with over 54,000 engineers and scientists working for the company.
Half of all the company’s annual sales are with the U.S Department of Defense.
Total revenue for Lockheed Martin in 2019 was reported to be $59.81 billion and they had an operating income of $8.37 billion.
The company has been the recipient of the Collier Award six times in its history.
The award is given to those who have made the greatest achievement in aeronautics.
Although the company has less commercial profit than Boeing, it has won expensive defense contracts.
Boeing Competitors: Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies is the result of a 2019 merger between United Technologies which was an aerospace business and Raytheon, a defense contractor.
This merger has created a company that’s capable of competing with Boeing in all markets.
However, the most concerning area for Boeing would be the commercial aircraft market.
Raytheon Technologies has designed and installed the engines of more than 13,000 commercial aircraft worldwide.
Their technologies are also sold to 34 militaries around the world.
The company’s biggest claim to fame is the products it provided for the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Raytheon Technologies also sells goods and services in avionics, drones, air defense systems, missiles, and cybersecurity.
They are a public company and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RTX.
The company employees more than 190,000 people and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
In 2020 the company revealed total revenue of $56.586 billion.
Their operating income was down to $-1.889 million due to the effects of the pandemic.
Boeing’s Advantage
Boeing has the advantage of having sales and production facilities around the globe.
It has a strong international presence in over 140 countries.
The company has strong relationships with many other businesses including its own competitors.
Through these partnerships, Boeing launches joint ventures such as the joint common missile program it has with Lockheed Martin.
The company also has a wide range of products so it can offer different price points for its customers.
Boeing Competitors and Alternatives: Final Thoughts
After the downturn in revenue as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Boeing and its competitors have been hit hard.
Boeing will need to keep offering competitively priced products and work on innovation to draw new business.
The company is unlikely to return to a pre-pandemic level immediately so a more cautious business model will be needed.
Defense contracts will still be given out and commercial airline use will recover one day.
Boeing will remain ahead of the pack even if it can’t spend big.
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