Boeing Delivers 53 Aircraft in October 2025, Airbus Maintains Delivery Lead

In October 2025, Boeing delivered 53 aircraft, raising its year-to-date total to 493 units, and positioning the U.S. manufacturer for its highest annual delivery total since 2018.

Meanwhile, Airbus delivered 78 aircraft in the same month, building its year-to-date tally to 585 deliveries, and maintaining its global lead in commercial aircraft deliveries.

Key Figures for October

• Boeing: 53 deliveries in October.

• Breakdown: 39 of the 737 MAX family were delivered in October.

• Wide-body deliveries: among the 53 were several wide-body types.

• Airbus: 78 deliveries in October to 36 customers. 

• Orders: Airbus achieved 112 gross orders in October.

  
  

Production & Delivery Context

Boeing has been focused this year on ramping production and restoring stability following several years of supply-chain and safety headwinds. In October, the U.S. regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officially raised the output ceiling for the 737 MAX from 38 to 42 jets per month — giving Boeing room to increase pace.

Although Boeing’s deliveries are considerably improved compared to recent years, the company still trails Airbus in total delivery volume and remains under pressure to convert backlogs into firm deliveries. Analysts note that the month-by-month delivery cadence does not perfectly equate to production rate (some aircraft are stored awaiting final certification or customer acceptance) but it remains a useful indicator.

Credit : Airbus

Airbus, on the other hand, continues to face supply-chain constraints (notably engine availability and cabin equipment) even while maintaining its delivery lead. The company delivered 78 aircraft in October, including both narrow-body A320/A321 family jets and wide-bodies such as the A330-900 and A350 variants.

Strategic Implications

• For Boeing: The improved delivery numbers are a strong signal of recovery in its commercial aircraft business. The lift of the 737 MAX production cap and progress on the 787 Dreamliner and other wide‐body programmes suggest that Boeing is regaining momentum. However, Boeing still needs to convert its sizeable backlog into timely deliveries and manage customer satisfaction, cost control, and production quality.

• For Airbus: Maintaining the delivery lead helps reinforce its market position, particularly in narrow­body aircraft where demand remains strong. But delivery pace is still constrained by upstream components and engine supply, meaning the back-loaded finish to 2025 remains important.

• For airlines & lessors: Delivery trends influence fleet planning, aircraft acquisition timing, and airline growth strategies. Airlines placing large orders will be closely watching which OEM can reliably deliver at pace without trade-offs in quality or service.

• For the market: The delivery gap underscores the ongoing competition between Boeing and Airbus. While Boeing is catching up, Airbus remains ahead in sheer volume. The delivery numbers also reflect post-pandemic recovery in global air travel and fleet renewal activity.

What to Watch Next

• How many more deliveries Boeing can complete in November and December 2025, and whether it can beat its 2018 peak.

• Whether Airbus can sustain its 78+ monthly delivery pace and reach its target of ~820 deliveries for the year.

• How OEMs manage their order backlogs, delivery scheduling, and aircraft hand-over quality.

• Any changes in production rate announcements, factory expansions (e.g., Boeing’s South Carolina 787 site) or new engine/cabin-equipment bottlenecks impacting delivery timing.

• The impact of delivery pace on airline fleets: how many operators receive their jets on schedule, and whether there are delivery deferrals or renegotiations.