Two years into their respective recoveries, Airbus and Boeing are both pushing production rates higher — but the 2026 scoreboard tells a more nuanced story than the headline rivalry suggests.
Through the first four months of 2026, Boeing leads on deliveries while Airbus leads decisively on orders and backlog. Both manufacturers are lifting build rates across their key programmes, and both face the same gating factor every aerospace supplier knows intimately: the supply chain, and engines in particular. Here is the head-to-head.
Deliveries · 2026 YTD (Jan–Apr)
Boeing edges ahead on volume through April, up 9% year-on-year, while Airbus runs modestly behind its own 2025 pace — a function of timing and supply, not demand.
Net Orders · 2026 YTD (Jan–Apr)
Airbus took 405 net orders to Boeing's 284 — and crucially, more than three-quarters of Airbus intake is single-aisle A320 Family, the workhorse that drives the deepest, longest supplier demand.
Ramp-Up Plan & Status
| Programme | Rate (May '26) | Target | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| A320 Family | ~75/mo | 70–75/mo | End-2027 |
| A350 | 12/mo | 12+/mo | Sustained |
| A220 | 14/mo | 14+/mo | Sustained |
| A330 | 2/mo | 2/mo | Sustained |
| Programme | Rate (May '26) | Target | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 737 MAX | 42/mo* | 42/mo | Sustained |
| 787 | 7/mo | 10/mo | 2026 |
| 777X | 1.5/mo | ~2/mo | 2026+ |
| 767 (Freighter) | 0.5/mo | 0.5/mo | Wind down |
Airbus: A320 rate increased to ~75/mo in mid-2024; targeting a sustained 70–75/mo by end-2027. · Boeing: *FAA-approved increase to 42 737 MAX per month; 787 production targeting 90–100 deliveries in 2026.
Full-Year 2026 Outlook
- Strong A320 Family demand
- Widebody growth (A350, A330neo)
- Supply chain improving
- Engine constraints remain (Pratt & Whitney on A320neo)
- 737 MAX backlog supporting growth
- Ramp to 42/mo
- 787 ramp to 90–100 deliveries
- Supply chain & quality improving; execution key
Backlog · End of April 2026
The Scoreboard
- Solid order intake and backlog
- A320 ramp progressing to 70–75/mo by end-2027
- Pratt & Whitney engine shortages continue to constrain deliveries
- On track for ~870 deliveries in 2026
Boeing leads deliveries YTD in 2026, while Airbus continues to execute its ramp-up plan and maintain a larger order backlog. Both OEMs are increasing production rates with improving outlooks.
- Deliveries up +9% YTD
- Strong April orders across all key programmes
- 737 MAX production at FAA-approved 42/mo
- Focused on execution, quality and cash generation