Airbus Stays World’s Top Planemaker, but Engine Supply Worries Grow

Post by : Saif

Airbus has once again proven its strength by keeping its position as the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer. In 2025, the European plane maker delivered 793 aircraft, staying ahead of its main rival, Boeing. While this is a strong result, Airbus has also raised a serious warning: engine supply problems could slow its future progress.

The company announced that aircraft deliveries rose by 4% compared to the previous year. This allowed Airbus to meet its revised delivery target, which was lowered last month due to problems at a Spanish supplier making fuselage panels. Even with these challenges, Airbus managed to cross its goal of around 790 aircraft, showing resilience in a difficult industrial environment.

Airbus also reported strong demand for its planes. The company received 1,000 gross orders in 2025, or 889 net orders after cancellations. This is higher than in 2024 and shows that airlines around the world still want new, fuel-efficient aircraft as air travel continues to grow.

Boeing, on the other hand, delivered 537 aircraft up to the end of November. This gave Airbus a clear and unchallenged lead for the year. Boeing is still recovering from internal problems and production slowdowns, though it has recently shown signs of improvement.

Despite the good numbers, Airbus deliveries are still below their pre-pandemic peak. In 2019, the company delivered 863 aircraft, which is about 70 more than in 2025. Over the last four years, Airbus has missed its original delivery targets, although the gap has become smaller each year.

Experts say this shows how fragile the global aircraft supply chain remains. Many suppliers are still struggling after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted factories, shipping, and staffing. According to aviation analysts, both Airbus and Boeing are dealing with a supply chain that is still not fully stable.

Outgoing Airbus commercial aircraft chief Christian Scherer said that deliveries are still moving upward and that demand remains strong. He noted that many supply problems have eased compared to previous years. However, he also admitted that one major issue remains unresolved: jet engine supplies.

The biggest concern comes from Pratt & Whitney, one of the two engine suppliers for Airbus’ best-selling A320neo family. Scherer said engines are arriving very late and warned that this problem could continue into 2026. Airbus has not yet reached a clear agreement with Pratt & Whitney on how many engines it will receive in the future, which makes planning more difficult.

Engine delays matter a lot because aircraft makers earn most of their money when planes are delivered. In 2025, Airbus delivered 607 A320neo aircraft, its most profitable model. While this was slightly higher than last year, further growth depends heavily on steady engine supplies.

Wide-body aircraft deliveries also improved slightly, led by the A330. However, deliveries of the flagship A350 remained flat due to delays in receiving large fuselage sections. The smaller A220 performed well, with deliveries rising 24% to 93 aircraft.

On the sales side, Airbus secured dozens of new orders from China late in the year. Still, it fell short of hopes for a massive deal that could have included up to 500 aircraft. Airbus is also working to close a possible order from AirAsia for around 100 A220 planes, which could be finalized soon.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has accepted that Boeing may win more new orders for now, especially after several Boeing deals linked to foreign visits by U.S. President Donald Trump. Even so, Airbus leaders say healthy competition is good for the industry.

Christian Scherer welcomed Boeing’s gradual recovery, saying that strong competition helps keep the global aircraft market balanced and prevents new rivals, such as China, from growing too fast.

In the end, Airbus enters 2026 from a position of strength. It remains the world’s top planemaker and continues to see strong demand. But engine supply delays are a serious concern. How Airbus handles this issue will play a key role in shaping its future growth and its ability to stay ahead in the global aviation race.

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