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The struggle between the two giants of the airliner industry for market dominance saw a seismic shift in favor of Airbus when the A320 family when it officially surpassed the 
Boeing 737 series to be crowned the best-selling commercial plane of all time. That didn’t deter efforts across the “pond,” however, as Boeing expects to begin a major ramp-up of production over the next year.
Despite the fact that Airbus outpaced Boeing in 2025 with nearly 800 aircraft delivered, the storied American aerospace giant achieved its highest output since 2018 with 600 deliveries before the new year. According to CNBC, there were 63 commercial aircraft delivered in December alone.
2025 At Boeing: A Year Of Progress
Boeing received orders for nearly 1,200 aircraft last year, which put it ahead of its rival, Airbus, for the first time in seven years. This is the strongest sign of its recovery as a manufacturer since the 737 MAX tragedies of 2018 and 2019 ushered in a decade of crisis and strife for the once unshakeable builder. Airbus received a little under 900 orders, about 25% less, in 2025 despite winning the contest for total deliveries by a wide margin.
The 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner continue to be among the most popular aircraft, but the 777X also boosted the company’s total numbers when 
Emirates placed a massive order for an additional 65 of the colossal twinjets. That brought the Dubai-based airline’s backlog to a stunning 270 airframes of the next-generation widebody.
The consistent performance of the 787 Dreamliner and its production line brought in over 300 orders, with nearly 90 delivered in 2025. That closed out one of the best years in the history of the program and has furthered the advanced, composite-built jet as one of the finest planes ever made by the company.
Just yesterday, the company announced more orders for 787s, this time from 
Delta Air Lines. This is remarkable for the fact that Delta has exclusively purchased Airbus A330neo and A350 widebodies since retiring its 747s and 777s. Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer, gave these remarks on the airline’s substantial, 60-strong order of Dreamliners:
“Delta is building the fleet for the future, enhancing the customer experience, driving operational improvements and providing steady replacements for less efficient, older aircraft in the decade to come…providing Delta’s welcoming, elevated and caring service to travelers worldwide.”
The Wider View
The beleaguered 737 MAX program saw some improvement this year as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) raised the production cap from 38 to 42 airframes per month in the fall of last year, following a trend of consistent safety and quality improvement. The final two of the four total 737 MAX variants are also expected to be certified this year, and production facilities are being prepared for a rapid start-up following official approval of the short-body MAX 7 and stretched MAX 10.
The 777X program suffered another setback as its certification to enter production is no longer certain to come in 2026 and is now anticipated to slip into 2027, yet more orders have been secured for the enormous twinjet despite the delay. However, the 787 Dreamliner program has kept on track with high demand and consistent output. The 787 has claimed the crown of best-selling widebody jetliner since its debut in 2011, and there is no sign that it is facing any danger of losing that title in the near future.
Airbus Delivers 10 A321neos In 1 Day In Push To Meet End-Of-Year Delivery Target
Airbus is in the final sprint of 2025.
The New Year’s Resolutions
In 2026, Boeing is entering a critical “recovery year” focused on industrial stability, positive cash flow, and key aircraft certifications following years of operational crises. Under CEO Kelly Ortberg, the company has shifted away from aggressive growth to prioritize “engineering excellence” and consistent execution.
Boeing aims to ramp up manufacturing as it exhausts its stock of stored aircraft, meaning nearly all 2026 deliveries will come from new production. The last of the 737 MAX jets in storage at Moses Lake near the main production site were finally delivered last year, and the company is aiming for 47 deliveries a month in 2026.
Plans also include 10 Dreamliner deliveries per month by the end of 2026 and an overall production output that can deliver 700 planes of all types annually. If the 777X successfully completes testing and certification, the first deliveries are anticipated in the early months of 2027 as well.
