The aerospace industry's most-watched rivalry produced a split decision in 2025. Airbus narrowly exceeded its annual delivery target with 793 aircraft handed over to customers, while Boeing delivered 595 units—a gap of nearly 200 aircraft that underscores the divergent trajectories of the world's two dominant planemakers.

Yet the story beneath the headline numbers is more nuanced than a simple Airbus victory lap. Boeing captured more gross orders during the year, suggesting that while production challenges persist, airlines haven't lost faith in the American manufacturer.

The Delivery Gap

Airbus's 793 deliveries represented a solid execution year for the Toulouse-based company, which had to navigate supply chain constraints, labor challenges, and quality control pressures that continue to plague the entire industry. The figure narrowly topped the company's targets and built on its consistent production leadership.

Boeing's 595 deliveries, while below Airbus, actually exceeded some analyst expectations given the company's well-documented challenges. Quality control issues, regulatory scrutiny following the Alaska Airlines door plug incident, and ongoing MAX program delays have all constrained output.

"In simple terms, Airbus won 2025 on execution, while Boeing won by regaining confidence."

— Aviation industry analysis

The Orders Picture

Boeing's order book tells a different story. Through November 2025, Boeing recorded approximately 1,000 gross orders compared to 797 for Airbus. The order momentum suggests airlines continue to see value in Boeing's product lineup despite execution challenges.

The Alaska Airlines mega-order announced in early January 2026 further bolstered Boeing's position. The carrier committed to 105 737-10 aircraft with options for 35 more, plus five 787 widebody jets—the largest order in Alaska's history and a significant vote of confidence in Boeing's MAX program.

Notably, this was Alaska's first major Boeing order since a door plug blew out of one of the carrier's 737 MAX 9 aircraft in January 2024, an incident that triggered renewed regulatory scrutiny and production slowdowns.

Market Share Reality

Despite Boeing's order success, the current market share picture favors Airbus decisively in the critical single-aisle segment. The A320neo family commands approximately 54% of program orders versus 33% for Boeing's MAX family.

When including the A220 (the former Bombardier CSeries that Airbus acquired), the European company controls roughly 58% of the single-aisle market—the most profitable segment of commercial aviation.

Boeing maintains a stronger position in widebody aircraft, but that segment represents a smaller portion of total deliveries and profit.

The 737 MAX 10 Question

Boeing's near-term outlook hinges significantly on the 737 MAX 10, the largest variant of its narrowbody family. The aircraft is years behind schedule and still awaiting FAA certification. Airlines like Alaska are betting on delivery dates extending into 2027—a long wait for carriers planning fleet renewals.

If certification continues to slip, Boeing risks losing customer patience. Several carriers have already diversified their orders to include Airbus aircraft as a hedge against continued MAX delays.

Supply Chain Bottlenecks

Both manufacturers continue grappling with supply chain constraints that limit production acceleration. Engine availability, particularly from CFM International (a GE-Safran joint venture) and Pratt & Whitney, remains the primary bottleneck.

Airbus has repeatedly signaled frustration with supplier performance, even as it pushes toward a 75-aircraft-per-month production rate for the A320 family. Boeing faces similar constraints compounded by its own internal quality issues.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Industry analysts expect the delivery gap to persist in 2026, with Airbus maintaining production leadership while Boeing focuses on rebuilding quality and regulatory trust. The certification timeline for the MAX 10 will be a critical variable.

Several 2026 developments bear watching:

  • Qantas expects delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000ULR for "Project Sunrise" ultra-long-haul routes
  • Boeing must demonstrate sustained production quality to avoid further regulatory intervention
  • Both manufacturers will compete for emerging market orders as aviation growth shifts toward Asia

Investment Implications

For investors, the 2025 results reinforce existing narratives. Airbus remains the execution story—steady deliveries, manageable risk, premium valuation. Boeing is the turnaround bet—higher potential upside if execution improves, but meaningful downside risk if problems persist.

The order momentum suggests airlines haven't given up on Boeing, but patience isn't unlimited. Another major quality incident or extended certification delay could shift the competitive balance more permanently toward Airbus.

As 2026 begins, both companies face the same fundamental challenge: ramping production to meet insatiable airline demand while maintaining the quality and safety standards the industry demands. How they answer that challenge will determine the next chapter of aerospace's great rivalry.