Strong delivery growth marks a turnaround year
Boeing staged a significant recovery in 2025, delivering its highest number of aircraft since 2018 and surpassing Airbus in net orders for the first time in seven years. The performance signals a potential turning point for the U.S. planemaker after years marked by crashes, production disruptions and financial strain.
The company said deliveries jumped 72% year over year to 600 aircraft. While this still trailed Airbus’ 793 deliveries, Boeing outpaced its European rival on the demand front, booking 1,175 new orders, or 1,075 net orders after cancellations, compared with Airbus’ 889 net orders.
Narrow-body and wide-body demand improves
Under CEO Kelly Ortberg, Boeing has focused on restoring confidence and competing more effectively with Airbus, particularly in the narrow-body market. Since 2018, the company has faced a string of setbacks, including two fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX, the COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes and a mid-air panel blowout that further damaged its reputation.
Momentum accelerated toward the end of the year. Boeing delivered 63 jets in December, its highest monthly total since 2023. That figure included 44 of its best-selling 737 MAX aircraft and 14 787 Dreamliners.
For the full year, Boeing delivered 440 units of the 737 MAX and 88 Dreamliners. The 787 total marked the highest number of Dreamliner deliveries since 2019, reflecting renewed demand for long-haul aircraft as international travel continues to recover.
Dreamliner orders surge
Demand for the 787 has been particularly strong. Boeing recorded 368 net Dreamliner orders in 2025, the second-highest annual total for the model, narrowly behind the 369 orders placed in 2007, the year the aircraft was first launched.
Delta Air Lines announced plans to purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 aircraft to bolster its long-haul fleet, although it was not immediately clear whether those orders were booked in 2025 or earlier. Alaska Airlines also confirmed orders finalized in December for five 787s and 105 737-10 aircraft, the largest variant of the MAX family.
Order book boosts confidence in recovery
Industry analysts say Boeing’s growing order backlog reflects renewed confidence from airlines and aircraft lessors. Scott Hamilton, an aerospace analyst with Leeham Co., described the order book as a strong endorsement of Boeing’s turnaround efforts.
He added that Boeing currently has an advantage in delivery timelines for single-aisle jets, as Airbus faces a larger backlog that could delay deliveries for some customers.
Certification progress in focus
Attention now turns to the long-delayed certification of the 737-10, the largest MAX variant. Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said he remains confident that certification will be completed this year, a milestone that could further strengthen Boeing’s competitive position.
George Ferguson, a senior aerospace analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, said progress on certification and continued improvements in production quality will be critical. If Boeing maintains its current trajectory, he added, the company could once again outperform Airbus in new orders in 2026.
