How Airbus Surpassed Boeing To Become The World’s Top Plane Maker

Market Dominance & Competition - Airbus has surpassed Boeing in market dominance, holding a significant lead in aircraft backlog [1][2] - Airbus's total backlog is 8726 aircraft compared to Boeing's 5643, representing billions of dollars in revenue and approximately 13 years to fulfill [3] - Airbus has delivered more planes annually than Boeing since 2019 [3] - The Airbus A320 family has surpassed the Boeing 737 in total orders, potentially becoming the most produced jet family in history [5][30] - Boeing dominates the widebody market with nearly 56% of the global fleet [25] Airbus A321neo Impact - The Airbus A321neo is a key factor in Airbus's market share, leading to an estimated 60-65% market share in deliveries, orders, and backlog [36] - Airlines are increasingly adopting the A321neo for its fuel efficiency and longer range capabilities [35] - Boeing lacks a comparable aircraft to the A321neo, giving Airbus a competitive advantage [37] Boeing's Challenges - Boeing has faced significant financial losses, manufacturing issues, and production limitations, including the grounding of the 737 Max eight [4][3] - Boeing's 737 Max production has been capped at 38 planes per month since January 2024 [40] - Boeing experienced an annual loss of $11.8 billion in 2024 [33] Future Outlook & Potential Disruptors - The industry anticipates new aircraft technologies, engines, and designs in the second half of the next decade [47] - China's Comac and Brazil's Embraer are potential competitors that could disrupt the Airbus-Boeing duopoly [51][52] - Tariffs and potential recessions could pose challenges to the globalized jetliner industry [43]