Airbus vs Boeing 2025: The Final Numbers Are In

The Final Stretch

As 2025 draws to a close, Airbus and Boeing are locked in their traditional year-end sprint to deliver as many aircraft as possible. But this year’s race tells a story of reversal – Boeing climbing back from crisis while Airbus struggles with supply chain challenges that have plagued the industry since the pandemic.

The numbers are striking. Through November, Boeing has delivered 537 commercial aircraft, a 69% increase over 2024’s troubled performance. Airbus managed 657 deliveries in the same period – more than Boeing, but well below internal targets.

Boeing’s Remarkable Recovery

It’s hard to overstate how badly 2024 went for Boeing. The year began with a door plug blowing off an Alaska Airlines 737-9 MAX at 16,000 feet. What followed was a cascade of whistleblower revelations, FAA investigations, production caps, and leadership turmoil.

Boeing delivered just 318 commercial aircraft in 2024 through November – barely half of normal output. The company was in crisis mode, focusing on quality improvements rather than volume.

2025 has been different. The FAA recently approved an increase in 737 MAX production from 38 to 42 aircraft per month. The Spirit AeroSystems acquisition brought critical fuselage production back in-house. Quality metrics have improved.

At 537 deliveries through November, Boeing is not only crushing 2024’s dismal numbers – it’s running 16% ahead of 2023 as well.

Airbus’s Supply Chain Struggles

While Boeing was climbing out of its hole, Airbus encountered problems of its own. The European manufacturer entered 2025 targeting 820 aircraft deliveries, then revised that forecast down to 790 as supply chain constraints persisted.

The main culprits:

• Engine delays: CFM International (LEAP engines) and Pratt & Whitney (GTF engines) have struggled to meet delivery schedules and manage fleet issues requiring engine removals.
• Buyer Furnished Equipment: Components supplied by airlines – seats, galleys, entertainment systems – have faced their own supply chain challenges.
• “Christmas tree” aircraft: Completed airframes have piled up at Airbus facilities waiting for missing components, eating into delivery windows.

These aren’t problems Airbus created, but they’re problems Airbus must manage. The company’s ambitious production rate increases have been tempered by supplier capabilities.

December’s Final Push

Both manufacturers traditionally deliver a disproportionate number of aircraft in December as year-end targets loom. Airlines prefer taking delivery before year-end for tax and accounting reasons. Manufacturers prefer recognizing revenue in the current fiscal year.

December 2025 will see both companies working around the clock to get every possible aircraft out the door. For Boeing, each delivery reinforces the recovery narrative. For Airbus, minimizing the gap to 820 helps preserve market confidence.

The Scorecard

Looking at 2025 overall:

• Boeing: Strong recovery from crisis, but still constrained by FAA production caps. The 69% improvement is real, but Boeing remains below pre-crisis output levels.
• Airbus: Still the market leader by volume, but missing targets erodes confidence. Supply chain management becomes a differentiating capability.

What It Means for Airlines

The duopoly’s struggles benefit neither manufacturer nor customer. Airlines waiting for new aircraft face delays regardless of which manufacturer they ordered from. Older, less efficient planes fly longer. Growth plans get pushed back.

Some carriers have explored alternatives – used aircraft, leases, or extended maintenance on current fleets. But the fundamental constraint remains: the world needs more new aircraft than Boeing and Airbus can currently produce.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 delivery race ends with Boeing feeling better about its trajectory and Airbus frustrated by constraints beyond its control. Neither is fully satisfied, but the competitive dynamic is shifting.

Boeing’s crisis, while far from over, is transitioning from acute to chronic. Airbus’s supply chain challenges, while manageable, suggest the path to higher production rates will be slower than hoped.

For the industry, the message is clear: aviation manufacturing remains constrained, and that won’t change quickly.