Boeing Surpasses Airbus Deliveries for First Time in Years
Boeing has reported higher commercial deliveries than Airbus in the first quarter of 2026. The company said it shipped 143 aircraft during the period.
Quarterly figures and aircraft mix
Boeing built 114 737s in the quarter. It also delivered six 767s, eight 777s and 15 787s.
Airbus recorded 114 deliveries in the same quarter. Its mix included 19 A220s, 81 A320s, three A330s and eight A350s.
Boeing surpasses Airbus in deliveries this quarter, marking a first in years.
Background: the Max crisis and its aftermath
In early 2018 Boeing announced it had set an industry record. The company said it shipped 763 planes in the prior year.
Two 737 Max crashes followed, involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Faulty software was blamed and the crashes killed 346 people.
Airlines grounded 737 Max aircraft and Boeing paused production of the model. Deliveries dropped to 380 in 2018 amid the crisis.
Boeing later reached a billion-dollar settlement with victims’ families.
Supply-chain pressures and technical concerns
Airbus faces engine supply limits. Pratt & Whitney is repairing about 1,200 engines due to a manufacturing flaw.
That repair program has slowed engine output. Airbus has built aircraft that await their engines before delivery.
Boeing warned that 737 production will slow while it resolves wiring issues. NASA also raised safety concerns after Boeing’s Starliner was deemed unsafe while docked at the International Space Station.
Order books and the road ahead
Both manufacturers still hold thousands of aircraft on back-order. Deliveries and production remain constrained by parts and technical work.
Boeing plans to introduce the 777X next year. The 777X is positioned as a long-awaited competitor to the A350.
Airbus recently rolled out an Ultra Long Range A350 for Qantas. The jet will operate non-stop flights from Australia to New York and London, flights that last over 20 hours.
Qantas configured cabins with fewer seats to improve comfort. Tickets will carry a premium and cut current travel times by three to four hours.
Report by Filmogaz.com.
