The Airbus A320 has surpassed the Boeing 737 as the most delivered commercial aircraft in history upon Saudi airline Flynas receiving the European manufacturer’s 12,260th jet.
According to a Reuters report on October 7, 2025, data from industry analysts Cirium shows that the A320 in question was delivered overnight, giving Airbus a slight lead over Boeing’s 737.
The A320 model includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, while the Boeing 737 includes the original 737-100 and 737-200, right up to the current MAX jets.
The Airbus A320 program was launched in March 1984, with five companies including British Caledonian and Air France among the first to place an order.
The Airbus A320 family aircraft then made its first commercial flight in April 1988 with Air France, on a flight between Paris and Berlin via Düsseldorf.
The Boeing 737 had entered service two decades earlier in February 1968, with Lufthansa selected as the launch customer.
Airbus has previously said: “The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft family and the preferred choice with airlines, from the low cost carriers to new business models taking benefits of new levels of performance and comfort.”
Up until August 31, 2025, Airbus has delivered a total of 333 A320 family aircraft. This includes nine A319s, 114 A320s and 210 A321s.
Over the last decade, Boeing have navigated multiple crises involving its 737 aircraft, severely affecting its delivery output.
In 2018, all 189 people on Lion Air Flight 610 died in a crash. In 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed, killing all 157 onboard. Both planes were Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Then, in January 2024, a door plug separated from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 shortly after takeoff.
This incident led to restrictions on aircraft production and questions over Boeing’s safety and compliance procedures.