With the express support of the President of the United States, Donald Trumpwhich has begun using the company’s contracts as a tool in international economic negotiations, Boeing finished 2025 ahead of Airbus in net orders for commercial aircraft.
Still, the American manufacturer remained behind its European competitor in terms of the number of aircraft actually delivered during the year, highlighting the gap between order volume and production capacity.
By the end of 2025, Boeing had accumulated 1,173 net orders, against 889 recorded by Airbus. In contrast, Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft to customers, while Boeing completed 600 deliveries, including 30 units of the 767 model. The figures show that, despite a stronger commercial performance, Boeing continues to face constraints in the pace of production.
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The result for the US manufacturer was driven in particular by strong demand for the 737 MAX family, which accounted for 591 orders. The 787 Dreamliner also played a significant role with 381 contracts, as did long-term agreements for the 777X, which reached a total of 163 orders. Airbus, on the other hand, maintained its order book primarily via the A320neo family, which totaled around 500 orders.
A significant point of difference between the two companies is the publication of data. Airbus provides detailed information on canceled orders, while Boeing only presents aggregate figures, which reduces transparency when directly comparing the order books.
Despite delays in the commissioning of 777X the program continues to attract long-term commitments. In addition, military aircraft derived from commercial platforms, such as the aerial refueling aircraft, contributed KC-46A and the maritime patrol aircraft P-8Ato Boeing’s total contract volume.
Another significant data point is that the total number of orders that Boeing won in 2025 was more than double that of 2024. This growth took place in a context of strong political involvement, with Trump beginning to highlight the company’s orders as a symbol of the strengthening of American industry during negotiations with America’s trading partners.
In summary, 2025 marked significant progress for Boeing on the commercial front, signaling a gradual recovery after years of difficulties related to certification delays for the 737 MAX and 777X, the consolidation of Spirit AeroSystems, and recurring quality issues. However, the gap between orders and deliveries indicates that the company continues to face challenges in turning contracts into production at the same pace as its main European competitor.
Source and images: Airbus | Boeing. This content was prepared with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
