Airbus Surges Ahead of Boeing in 2026 Jet Deliveries and Orders

For most of 2026, Boeing was in the lead, having delivered more jets to airlines than its European rival Airbus through the first four months of the year. However, that changed in May when Airbus took over, delivering 81 aircraft and overtaking Boeing's total of 250 by the end of the month.

According to recent data, Airbus has a significant lead on orders as well, with around 368 net orders compared to Boeing's roughly 140. The A320neo family, particularly the A321neo, is driving much of this demand for Airbus, while Boeing continues to struggle with production and reputational issues related to its 737 MAX.

The competition between these two companies matters because they build nearly all large airliners in the Western world, shaping what airlines can buy, how quickly, and at what price. With both manufacturers holding multi-year backlogs, the real contest is now about who can actually deliver jets fast enough to meet demand.