TOULOUSE— Airbus has successfully delivered around 300 aircraft by mid-2025, surpassing Boeing, which reported delivering approximately 278 units. This achievement highlights Airbus’ consistent production rates from its Toulouse and Hamburg facilities, despite ongoing issues with engine shortages.
On the other hand, Boeing is seeing a gradual improvement in its delivery pace, although the U.S. manufacturer continues to struggle with regulatory challenges, quality control issues, and several significant safety incidents, including a tragic crash involving Air India (AI) earlier this year.
As of June 2025, the fierce competition in global aircraft manufacturing clearly favors Airbus.
Data from Forecast International reveals that Airbus had achieved an estimated 300 aircraft deliveries by the end of June, which includes 243 officially recorded deliveries through May and 57 in June.
In comparison, Boeing closely followed with around 278 aircraft, which includes 220 deliveries through May and an estimated 58 in June—slightly edging ahead of Airbus that month.
However, this temporary monthly success did little to close the cumulative gap formed by Airbus’ stable early-year deliveries. Airbus maintained its delivery momentum primarily through the A320neo family, A350s, and A220s, delivering 34, 8, and 11 units respectively in June.
Boeing’s uptick in June largely stemmed from deliveries of 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft, though ongoing challenges including FAA oversight, manufacturing inconsistencies, and door plug inspections continued to limit its total output compared to Airbus.
Boeing Q2 2025 Deliveries Surge
Boeing achieved the delivery of 150 commercial aircraft in Q2 2025, marking a 15% increase from Q1 and representing its strongest second-quarter performance since 2018. This included a resurgence in deliveries to Chinese carriers along with robust output from the Boeing 737 MAX.
Deliveries to Chinese airlines restarted in June, which included shipments to Xiamen Airlines, China Southern, Air China, and Minsheng Financial Leasing, primarily departing from Seattle (SEA), Boeing’s main delivery hub.
Boeing’s total commercial deliveries in the first half of 2025 reached 280 units, boosted by increased activity across both widebody and narrowbody programs. Between April and June, Boeing delivered 104 737s, 24 787s, 13 777s, and 9 767s, with 60 aircraft delivered in June alone—marking the company’s best monthly total since December 2023.
Notably, the 787 Dreamliner program saw nearly a doubling in deliveries from Q1 to Q2, with 24 units delivered compared to just 13 in the first quarter.
This increase followed the easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China, allowing for eight aircraft—predominantly 737 MAXs—to be delivered to Chinese airlines. Juneyao Air (HO) received a deferred 787-9, while Air China Cargo (CA) took delivery of a 777 Freighter.
Quarterly Comparison and Order Highlights
Boeing’s Q2 production reflected a 15% rise from the 130 aircraft delivered in Q1, with widebody deliveries almost doubling:
| Aircraft | Q1 | Q2 | YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 737 | 105 | 104 | 209 |
| 767 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| 777 | 7 | 13 | 20 |
| 787 | 13 | 24 | 37 |
| Total | 130 | 150 | 280 |
In tandem with robust deliveries, Boeing secured 427 aircraft orders in Q2, a remarkable rebound from just 25 orders received in Q2 2024. In May, the company logged 303 gross orders, which stands as the highest monthly total since 2023.
A noteworthy order came from Qatar Airways (QR), which placed a groundbreaking request for 160 aircraft—comprising 130 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 30 777-9s—along with options for 50 additional units.
737 MAX Production at Full Capacity
Boeing continues to maintain 737 MAX production at the FAA-imposed ceiling of 38 units per month, a limit set following the January 2024 Alaska Airlines (AS) door plug incident. To address this, Boeing has invested in enhancing quality control and safety measures.
In its most recent Chief Aerospace Safety report, the manufacturer highlighted advancements across all six safety and quality metrics.
CEO Kelly Ortberg remains hopeful that production could soon rise to 42 jets a month, pending approval from the FAA. Company executives underscored the commitment to maintain high production quality while achieving delivery objectives worldwide.
Regulatory Pressure Weigh on Boeing’s Performance
Boeing’s production delays in 2025 are not merely attributable to supply chain issues. The company’s safety record has come under significant scrutiny in light of several events.
A standout incident was the Air India Flight AI171, which tragically crashed with 241 fatalities. This disaster raised serious concerns about the safety profile of the 787.
Additionally, earlier this year, a United Airlines (UA) 787 faced a violent pitch-down caused by a malfunctioning pilot seat mechanism, further eroding public trust.
Reports of smoke in the cabin aboard certain 737 MAX aircraft, as reported by Bloomberg, added to Boeing’s safety challenges, overshadowing its otherwise positive delivery figures.
In response, Boeing has enacted leadership changes and is collaborating closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to improve inspections and restore reliability in operations. However, regaining public trust appears more complex than resolving logistical issues.
Airbus Builds Momentum with Operational Stability
Airbus has demonstrated remarkable operational resilience, with assembly sites located in Toulouse (TLS) and Hamburg (XFW), even amidst similar challenges.
Despite facing engine shortages—particularly regarding Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines—temporarily grounding dozens of jets including 40 Wizz Air (W6) aircraft, Airbus has maintained an average monthly output of around 50 aircraft.
The manufacturer continues to capitalize on its extensive global supply chain and efficiencies across different programs to ensure stable deliveries across multiple lines. Its strategy is focused on gradual production increases and reducing dependency on any single supplier or program.
While the A220 and A350 programs are smaller in scale compared to the A320neo, both have significantly contributed to Airbus’ overall delivery numbers.
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Based on an article from aviationa2z.com: https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/07/09/boeing-beats-airbus-in-june-2025-deliveries/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=boeing-beats-airbus-in-june-2025-deliveries
