Boeing’s 2025 Orders Outpace Airbus; Can Deliveries Catch Up Next?
Key Points
- 1Boeing secured 1,173 net orders in 2025, ending Airbus's seven-year sales streak in the commercial aviation market competition.
- 2Airbus delivered 793 aircraft, maintaining a significant delivery lead over Boeing's 600 deliveries for the seventh straight year.
- 3Strong demand for the Boeing 737 MAX 787 Dreamliner families drove the US manufacturer's order success.
- 4Supply chain constraints and quality issues continue to challenge both manufacturers' annual production targets.
The commercial aviation market competition saw a major shift in 2025. Boeing secured more aircraft orders than its European rival, Airbus. This marks the first time in seven years that the US manufacturer has surpassed Airbus in annual sales volume. However, Airbus still maintained a strong lead in aircraft deliveries.
2025 Aircraft Orders and Deliveries
Boeing accumulated 1,173 net orders for the full year 2025. This total comfortably exceeded the 889 net orders recorded by Airbus. Boeing’s success was largely driven by strong demand for its Boeing 737 MAX 787 Dreamliner families. The 737 MAX family alone accounted for 591 new orders. The 787 Dreamliner series also saw significant activity. This included a breakthrough order from Delta Air Lines.
In contrast, Airbus recorded 1,000 gross orders, resulting in 889 net orders after cancellations. The European manufacturer’s aircraft order backlog remains substantial. Airbus ended 2025 with a record overall order backlog of 8,754 aircraft. The order mix was heavily anchored in single-aisle aircraft, supporting long-term stability.
Airbus Maintains Delivery Lead
Despite the Boeing surpasses Airbus orders headline, Airbus extended its delivery lead in commercial aircraft handovers. Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft to 91 customers in 2025. This was slightly above its revised target of 790 jets. The company’s delivery total was a 4% increase from the previous year.
Boeing delivered 600 commercial aircraft in 2025. While this was Boeing's highest output since 2018, it trailed Airbus by 193 aircraft. The delivery gap highlights the differing production stability of the two aerospace giants. Airbus has now led in annual deliveries for seven consecutive years.
Industry Challenges and Outlook
Both manufacturers continue to face significant challenges. Supply chain constraints remain a major impediment to increasing production rates. Airbus had to revise its delivery goal downward from 820 due to quality issues affecting its A320 family.
The market shows robust narrowbody widebody demand for new aircraft. Boeing’s order victory suggests strong airline confidence in its widebody programs, especially the 787. However, Boeing needs 777-9 certification to reclaim its historical lead in twin-aisle deliveries. The global commercial jet market is still working to clear a large backlog of outstanding orders. This ensures years of work for both aerospace manufacturing rivalry leaders. The focus for 2026 will shift to production stability and meeting annual production targets. Regulatory approvals from bodies like the FAA will also be key for new aircraft programs.
- Key Takeaways:
- Boeing secured 1,173 net orders, ending Airbus's seven-year sales lead.
- Airbus delivered 793 aircraft, maintaining its delivery dominance.
- Demand for the Boeing 737 MAX 787 Dreamliner drove the US manufacturer's order success.
- Supply chain constraints continue to challenge both companies’ production goals.
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