Airbus, Boeing rivalry to reach a key milestone next month

[AIRBUS A320.]
Daniel OUDIN/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Airbus (OTCPK:EADSF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EADSF]) is set to break a coveted title Boeing (NYSE:BA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BA]) has held for decades, as its A320 series is just weeks away from overtaking its U.S. competitor’s 737 family as the most-delivered commercial airliner in history, according to data from aviation consultancy Cirium.

As of early August 2025, the European aircraft maker has delivered 12,153 737s since Air France (OTCPK:AFRAF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AFRAF]) (OTCPK:AFLYY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AFLYY]) took delivery of the first 100 units of its single-aisle jetliner in March 1988, Cirium data showed.

Boeing’s (NYSE:BA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BA]) 737 deliveries had approached 12,175 after the company handed the first 100 of its cigar-shaped bestseller to Lufthansa (OTCQX:DLAKF [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DLAKF]) (OTCQX:DLAKY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/DLAKY]) in December 1967.

Max Kingsley-Jones, Head of Advisory at Cirium, said that “current delivery rates should see the two paths cross very soon,” and added that within the next month or so, cumulative deliveries of A320s could overtake those of 737.

Boeing (NYSE:BA [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BA]) had already delivered about 1,500 737s by 1988 when Airbus (OTCPK:EADSY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EADSY]) began manufacturing its answer to the U.S.-made narrow-body aircraft.

“But did anyone back then expect it could become number [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7358795438960910359--YQa?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABfqcIAB05NN9SR9QSCQK7psxs6dN7PE0fw] one—and on such high production volumes?” Kingsley-Jones asked. “I certainly didn’t, and nor probably did Airbus Industrie...”

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