The Airbus A320 family has reportedly surpassed the Boeing 737 to become the world’s best-selling airliner. According to a report by Le Monde, Airbus has delivered more than 12,250 aircraft from the A320 family, introduced in the 1980s, marking the first time it has overtaken the Boeing 737, which first took to the skies in the 1960s. As of August 2025, Airbus has reached 12,198 Airbus A320 family deliveries.
Additionally, September 2025 was reportedly one of the strongest months for commercial aircraft deliveries for the European manufacturer. Airbus delivered a total of 73 jets (up from 50 deliveries in September last year), exceeding earlier analyst forecasts of 69 to 70 deliveries, according to a report by Reuters. In a comment to Simple Flying, Airbus did not disclose the figure for September, stating that it has yet to publish its orders and deliveries data for that month, which will be released on October 8.
In August, Airbus delivered a total of 61 jets, including 47 from the A320 family.
A Close Race Between Two Narrowbody Titans
Over the past few years, there has been a tight race between the two narrowbody aircraft families from the world’s largest manufacturers. While deliveries of their most popular models have been close in recent years, Airbus achieved in 37 years what took Boeing 58 years.
As per Le Monde, by the end of September, the A320, introduced into service with Air France in 1988, had become the world’s best-selling commercial aircraft, surpassing its long-time rival, the Boeing 737, which first flew in 1967, with more than 12,250 deliveries.
In September alone, Airbus produced around 73 A320 family aircraft (Reuters) or about 60, according to Le Monde, which highlighted the milestone of overtaking Boeing. In contrast, Boeing delivered just 38 737 MAX jets due to production caps imposed by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As of August 2025, Boeing had delivered 12,214 737s, meaning even with September’s deliveries, it would not have matched Airbus, according to Le Monde.
Airbus Led The Global Jet Deliveries In 2024
The European aircraft manufacturer maintained its lead in 2024, delivering a total of 766 aircraft. In contrast, Boeing’s output was significantly lower, with 348 commercial jets delivered during the year.
Airbus’ deliveries increased by around 4% compared to 2023. 
Boeing, on the other hand, saw its deliveries drop by roughly one-third amid a series of setbacks. The US manufacturer faced manufacturing quality issues, disruptions caused by a machinists’ strike, and ongoing supply chain bottlenecks. The situation was further compounded by the door plug incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 earlier in the year.
|
Year |
Boeing |
Airbus |
|---|---|---|
|
2022 |
480 |
663 |
|
2023 |
528 |
735 |
|
2024 |
348 |
766 |
In 2023, Airbus delivered 735 aircraft, ahead of Boeing’s 528. The year before, in 2022, Airbus delivered 663 jets compared to Boeing’s 480, continuing to hold a clear lead over its US rival.
Airbus Dominance Is Expected To Grow
Airbus’s lead is expected to widen further. According to Le Monde, the company’s single-aisle models, including the A320 family and A220, have together accumulated 20,303 orders, with 7,164 aircraft still awaiting delivery, ensuring nearly a decade of production at current rates.
Airbus plans to deliver about 820 aircraft across all models by the end of 2025, a goal that could further strengthen its lead. However, the company continues to face challenges linked to Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines.
The engine problems, caused by a rare contaminant found in the powder metal used for some components, have delayed Airbus deliveries by increasing the number of so-called “gliders” completed aircraft waiting for engines. Although the situation has slightly improved, ongoing supply chain issues and the need for inspections and repairs are still slowing down new aircraft deliveries.
