With explicit support from the President of the United States, Donald Trumpwhich began using company contracts as an instrument for international economic negotiation, Boeing ended 2025 ahead of Airbus in net orders for commercial aircraft.
Even so, the North American manufacturer remained behind its European competitor in the number of aircraft actually delivered throughout the year, highlighting the difference between order volume and production capacity.
At the end of 2025, Boeing accumulated 1,173 net orders, compared to 889 registered by Airbus. In contrast, Airbus delivered 793 commercial planes to customers, while Boeing completed 600 deliveries, including 30 units of the 767 model. The numbers show that, despite the stronger commercial performance, Boeing still faces limitations in the pace of production.
The American manufacturer’s result was mainly driven by strong demand for the 737 MAX family, responsible for 591 orders. Orders for the 787 Dreamliner, with 381 contracts, and long-term agreements for the 777X, which totaled 163 orders, also had relevant weight. Airbus maintained its portfolio heavily supported by the A320neo family, which concentrated around 500 orders.
A point of contrast between the two companies is the disclosure of data. Airbus reports order cancellations in detail, while Boeing only presents aggregated numbers, which reduces transparency in direct comparisons between portfolios.
Even with the delays in the entry into service of the 777Xthe program continues to attract long-term commitments. Furthermore, military-use aircraft derived from commercial platforms, such as refuelers KC-46A and maritime patrol planes P-8Acontributed to Boeing’s total contract volume.
Another relevant fact is that the total number of orders obtained by Boeing in 2025 was more than double that recorded in 2024. This growth occurred in a context of strong political action, in which Trump began to highlight the company’s orders as a symbol of the strengthening of American industry during negotiations with United States commercial partners.
In summary, 2025 marked a significant advance for Boeing in the commercial field, 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 problems. Still, the difference between orders and deliveries indicates that the company continues to face challenges in converting contracts into production at the same pace as its main European competitor.
Source and images: Airbus | Boeing. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
