Boeing On Track For Highest Annual Deliveries Since 2018

American aircraft manufacturer Boeing is celebrating delivering a total of 53 jets this October, which has brought the total number of deliveries in 2025 so far to 493. The manufacturer also received a total of 15 new aircraft orders for the same month. Of the 53 jets, 39 of these were the Boeing 737 MAX, which included nine for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, and five for the Irish ultra-low-cost-carrier, Ryanair. Other aircraft included in the month’s delivery were one Boeing P-8 Poseidon for the United States Navy, among 13 widebody jets, which were made up of eight 787 Dreamliners, two 777 freighters, and four remaining 767s.

These numbers forecast Boeing to be on track to meet its highest annual delivery total since before the COVID-19 Pandemic, when in 2018 the Seattle-based aircraft manufacturer delivered a total of 806 aircraft. Following 2018, Boeing hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, when the 737 MAX was grounded, and subsequently led to a long line of production safety and quality control scrutiny, in addition to the subdued demand for aircraft through, and initially after the pandemic.

Head To Head With Airbus

Boeing’s Chief Executive Officer, Kelyl ORtberg, noted in a report by CNBC that the commercial airplane division continues to improve production quality, and has recently received approval from federal regulators to increase its current 737 jet output, up from 38 to 42 per month. While these numbers look promising, Boeing still trails behind its biggest competitor, Airbus, which has already notched up a total of 585 aircraft deliveries between January and October 2025.

For Boeing, October was overall quieter than usual for aircraft orders, garnering just 15 in the month. This was made up with both narrow and widebody aircraft, including eight 737s and seven 787s. However, taking into consideration canceled orders, which were seven 737s, results in a net total of eight aircraft orders for the month. On the plus side, the 787 has received a total of 320 orders this year alone, the second highest the manufacturer has received in a year since the program was launched, where the highest number ordered in one year was 369 back in 2007.

Through the continued success of the 787, we will see the recent groundbreaking for the Boeing 787 South Carolina plant expansion at Charleston, where additional new facilities will be built to support the increased and additional design, fabrication, and delivery of the world’s most popular widebody.

A Backlog Of 5,911 Aircraft

Thus far, Boeing has a backlog of 5,911 aircraft on order, including the total of 782 new orders that have been made this year, including those taken into consideration for cancellations and conversions. Year to date, the manufacturer has received a total of 836 gross orders, which, after cancellations and conversions equate to 782 aircraft. According to Boeing’s website, this year alone the manufacturer has delivered a total of 370 Boeing 737, 25 767, 31 777, and 68 787. Historical annual orders for Boeing airplanes as listed below:

In the first quarter of this century, passenger air traffic has tripled, and the global airplane fleet has doubled. The Boeing Commercial Market Outlook expects that over the next 20 years, resilience will continue with the need for new airplanes to stimulate continued strong demand. Emerging markets are key in this global air growth, with the expanding middle class and competitive airline networks that continue to be established.

Examples of this include the recent announcement for Uzbekistan Airways and Somon Air, both Central Asia airlines, placed historical orders for new Boeing aircraft to expand their reach from Central Asia to the likes of Europe, Asia, and North America, while other carriers such as Emirates look to revolutionize and modernize their fleet with new aircraft such as the Boeing 777X.

The Numbers At Airbus

Across the Atlantic, Airbus recorded a total of 78 new aircraft deliveries in 2025, which were to 36 different customers. This marked the best month for the aircraft manufacturer for the year. This outpaced the 62 aircraft that were delivered in the same month in 2024. Airbus is hoping to boost this after a slow first half of 2025, which may see it miss its target of a total of 820 deliveries for the calendar year.

Airbus has recorded a total of 585 aircraft handovers so far for 2025, stifled by lower-than-average deliveries in Q1 and Q2. This was a result of supply chain challenges with engine suppliers. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury noted to CNBC that Airbus remains laser-focused on reaching the ambitious target:

“All our attention will be on engine deliveries from both CFM and Pratt & Whitney, but they’re telling us that they will be able to deliver what we need. So we remain positive for the back end of the year.”

Highlights for Airbus in October include the delivery of four Airbus A350-900 to Emirates and the first A321XLR for American Airlines.