As we are heading into mid-October, Airbus has successfully delivered 392 A320 jets this year. The total production goal for all airframes was reduced from 820 for 2025, down to 770, but the European planemaker is still far outperforming its American counterpart. This year, Airbus has delivered 507 of all types, while 
Boeing has only managed 418. At the current pace, the year-end total for A320s should reach 550 units.
The Airbus A320 has officially surpassed the 737 with the latest production output, becoming the best-selling single-aisle airliner of all time. Last month, 47 of the total 73 deliveries were A320 family aircraft, bringing the historic total to over 12,250 jets from the series since it debuted in 1988. The company has averaged 30-40 jets per month this year, according to Flight Plan.
The monthly goal is reportedly 50 planes per month, according to the maker, but supply chain bottlenecks with electronic parts like semiconductors, and engines from Pratt & Whitney and CFM International have been blamed for the missed targets. At the same time, Boeing has only recently begun hitting its max of 38 monthly 737 MAX narrowbodies, reinforcing that Airbus is in a more stable position.
The Best-Selling Airliner Ever
More than 300 carriers have purchased the Airbus A320 since the plane was first announced in 1984. Of the 19,000+ total A320 family orders, over 11,000 have been for the A320neo. As mentioned before, the total deliveries have now surpassed the 737, exceeding 12,250 total. Almost 4,000 of those have been A320neo jets. Of the 7,262-strong backlog orders, over 70% are for A321neos.
The A320neo is the standard model that comprises the basis of the A320 lineup. Beyond the baseline jet, there are also the A319 and A321, with the former being shorter and the latter a stretched model. There are also a number of sub-variants within the family tree that offer different performance, configuration, or other options. The smallest variant seats 120 passengers, while the largest is rated for 244 souls.
Airbus proudly describes the A320 lineup as a model family that offers the “right size” aircraft for operators to match their routes. The model line has options that are perfect for high-density routes and others that serve long-haul, lower demand destinations optimally. There is a pure freighter, the A320P2F, and because the airframe has the widest single-aisle fuselage, passenger configured planes can also carry containerized cargo.
The A320neo Difference
Despite some supply chain issues related to lingering global industrial shortages of certain alloys and electronics, the engines of the A320neo are game changers in terms of efficiency. In fact, “neo” stands for new engine option. The two powerplant choices are the Pratt & Whitney GTF or the CFM International LEAP-1A. These turbofans are 20% more fuel and emission efficient, as well as 50% quieter than the first-generation A320.
The added benefits of the A320neo versus the legacy model line are 5% lower airframe cost and a 14% lower operating cost across the board. The avionics feature, dubbed “Skywise” by Airbus, is a maintenance data software to help with preventative maintenance and efficient operations. Paired with the fly-by-wire electronics in the cockpit, the A320neo is a digital leap in technology over the previous model.
The “Airspace” cabin has one of the widest single-aisle fuselages on the market, 7 inches more than the 737. It can be equipped with lie-flat seats for long-haul models and widebody-sized seats for all classes. The A321XLR features a low cabin altitude pressure of 6,000 feet for long-haul comfort. The entire cabin volume of air of all A320s is filtered every two to three minutes by a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestor) system.
A320 Freighter
Through the P2F program, the A320 Family is also offered as a freighter. A320s and A321s that have finished their useful operational service as passenger aircraft can convert to freighters through the A320P2F program. The conversion makes room for 14 large containers or pallets on the main deck and 10 LD3-type containers on the lower deck. It can carry up to 27 metric tons across 1,900 nautical miles.
The conversion program was first launched by a collaborative program between Airbus, ST Aerospace, and EFW. The first A321P2F received its type certificate in 2020 and was delivered to Qantas later that same year. The first A320P2F took flight in 2021. The launch customer was Fly Vaayu of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022.
Since it entered service, the A320F has become increasingly popular, with Fly Vaayu in the UAE, Pradhan Air Express in India, and Astral Aviation in Africa being the strongest initial customers. The converted cargo hauler is seeing strong interest from operators in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
The Long Haulers
The A321neo series is the highest capacity option in the Airbus A320 family tree. Airbus claims the long-range jets burn 30% less fuel than the previous generation. The Airspace cabin is modular in configuration, allowing airlines to choose between economical or luxurious cabin layouts. Each can be equipped with fully lie-flat premium seats in business class or first class cabins, as well as widebody-spec comfort seats in economy class.
The A321XLR has the longest range of any variant, maxing out at 8,700 kilometers. The A321LR is not far behind at 7,400 kilometers. The A321XLR features a permanent Rear Centre Tank (RCT), an optional Additional Center Tank (ACT), and a higher Maximum Take-Off Weight of 101 tons. The A321LR has three Additional Center Tanks (ACTs).
The A321neo has been extremely popular thanks to its high capacity of 180 to 220 passengers in two-class configurations as well as its long-range performance. Carriers find it to be the best solution for high-density airports that need efficiency and capacity in a single-aisle airframe. Some airlines, like Ryanair, have found the A321XLR to be a game-changer that opens up new possibilities for its network by unlocking destinations that were once out of reach.
The Top A320 Flyers
The list of leading airlines that fly the A320 is a globally diverse roster, with the reigning champion surprisingly being an American operator. These carriers have all bolstered their fleets with new A320neos over the years since it first debuted with Lufthansa in 2016. Some replaced aging Boeing 737 fleets, while others refreshed their legacy fleets of older A320 jets.
In 2024, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said in a press release for an order of 85 A321neo jets:
“Over the past decade, we have invested heavily to modernize and simplify our fleet, which is the largest and youngest among U.S. network carriers. These orders will continue to fuel our fleet with newer, more efficient aircraft so we can continue to deliver the best network and record-setting operational reliability for our customers.”
Today, American Airlines flies 482 A320 family jets to take the top spot on the leaderboard of global operators, according to Planespotters.net data. China Eastern flies 390, China Southern flies 345, and Delta Air Lines has 316 examples on its flightline. At one time, the world’s leading operator, easyJet, had a strong fleet of 192 from the series, while rival low-cost carrier (LCC) Wizz Air has 201 today.
Why Is Production Down?
According to Airbus, there have been ongoing parts shortages in its global supply chain throughout the year. The maker has had no reprieve from the bottleneck, which has forced lower output. As Reuters reported, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stated:
“We are facing headwinds right now; we have to bite the bullet.”
CFM International and Pratt & Whitney have both struggled to keep up with Airbus’ ambitious production goals. The aerospace industry as a whole still has not recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, even if air travel demand has surged. Furthermore, add to that the interference caused by the political drama inspired by US President Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again tariff threats.
Combined lobbying efforts from Boeing, Airbus, and even Embraer to keep the free trade of aerospace products have been narrowly successful so far. The US has not yet clamped down on the already vulnerable trade network of aviation goods, living up to the Wall Street saying: “TACO,” which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”
It is unlikely that a significant improvement in the global industry will manifest itself without some significant change. Russia is also a key supplier of various materials, including high-grade aluminum, which has been an issue since sanctions following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine have made it radioactive as a trade partner.
All in all, while Airbus may have had overly optimistic outlooks for 2025, the aerospace juggernaut is still performing at the top of the charts. Beating out its arch-rival in not only current production volume, but also clinching the title for top-selling airliner of all time, makes this a year that will go down in history for both Airbus and the A320.
