Airbus CEO Acknowledges Boeing May Lead 2025 Aircraft Order Race
By Cygnus | 10 Dec 2025
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury signaled on Wednesday that Boeing could take the lead in the annual aircraft order race this year, potentially ending Airbus’ multi-year streak of dominance. Faury noted that U.S. tariff settlements and trade-related incentives have likely given Boeing a strategic edge in securing new deals in the final quarter.
Despite this potential shift in annual orders, Airbus continues to outpace its U.S. rival in both deliveries and its overall total order backlog. Speaking to France Inter, Faury highlighted the company’s long-term strength: “Being ahead on orders for the past five years means our backlog remains substantially higher than Boeing’s. We are focused on delivering the planes we have sold.”
The Numbers: Boeing Surges
Between January and November 2025, Boeing reported 908 net orders (after cancellations), buoyed by a resurgence in demand for its 787 Dreamliner long-haul jet and recent mega-orders for the 777X. In comparison, Airbus secured 700 net orders in the same period. Faury acknowledged that geopolitical maneuvers played a role. He suggested that U.S. government support in resolving trade disputes had likely influenced purchasing decisions, particularly in Asia, where airlines may have placed Boeing orders to ease tariff tensions with Washington.
Market Segments & China Strategy
Analysts point out that the market is bifurcating. While Boeing’s wide-body 787 is driving its current order volume, Airbus maintains a commanding lead in the single-aisle market with its A320neo and A321XLR families. Airbus’s slower order intake this year is partly due to its own success—its production slots are sold out well into the 2030s, leaving it less room to sign near-term deals compared to Boeing.
Regarding China, Faury tempered expectations for a massive immediate windfall. He stated he did not anticipate an immediate purchase of hundreds of jets, though Airbus has received Chinese regulatory approval to proceed with the delivery of 120 previously ordered aircraft. Sources indicate Airbus had hoped for a mega-order of up to 500 jets, but Beijing appears to be balancing its purchases between the U.S. and Europe to navigate ongoing trade considerations.
Operational Updates
On the technical front, Faury confirmed that a software retrofit affecting the A320 family (including the A321) has been successfully resolved. The issue, which impacted approximately 4,000 jets globally, has been addressed without significant disruption to airline operations.
Summary
Airbus may see its streak of leading aircraft orders challenged by Boeing in 2025, aided in part by trade-related deals and robust 787 demand. While new orders may favor Boeing this year, Airbus maintains a massive delivery pipeline and remains the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer by output. The company continues to focus on supply chain stability and resolving technical issues to maintain customer confidence.
FAQs – Airbus vs. Boeing 2025 Aircraft Orders
Q1: Why might Boeing lead the 2025 aircraft order race over Airbus?
Boeing has gained an edge due to available production slots (Airbus is sold out for years), strong demand for its 787 wide-body jets, and U.S. trade incentives that have encouraged international carriers to buy American.
Q2: How do the order numbers compare so far in 2025?
As of November, Boeing has reported 908 net orders, compared to 700 net orders for Airbus.
Q3: Does this mean Airbus is losing its market position?
No. Airbus still leads in deliveries (the metric that generates revenue) and has a much larger total backlog of undelivered planes. The 2025 order gap reflects Boeing playing catch-up while Airbus manages a full order book.
Q4: Which Airbus models are leading in the market?
Airbus continues to dominate the single-aisle market with its A321neo and A321XLR, which remain the preferred choice for airlines despite long waiting times.
Q5: Are there any significant pending orders from China?
Airbus has received approval to deliver 120 previously ordered jets to China. However, analysts suggest Beijing is splitting new orders between Airbus and Boeing to maintain diplomatic leverage with both the EU and the US.
Q6: What impact do trade disputes have on aircraft orders?
They are significant. Airlines often time multibillion-dollar orders to align with political “thaws” or tariff settlements. In 2025, U.S. trade pressure appears to have steered some Asian buyers toward Boeing.
Q7: Has Airbus faced any operational issues recently?
Faury confirmed that a software issue affecting roughly 4,000 A320-family jets has been resolved.
Q8: Will Airbus remain the largest aircraft manufacturer?
Yes. By deliveries—the standard measure of industry leadership—Airbus is expected to remain the world’s largest manufacturer in 2025.
Q9: How do Boeing and Airbus compete in different market segments?
Currently, Boeing is seeing strength in wide-body aircraft (787, 777X) where it has inventory, while Airbus dominates the narrow-body (A320/A321) sector where demand is highest.
Q10: What does the order race indicate about the industry?
It highlights that the duopoly is alive and well. Despite Boeing’s safety struggles in recent years, the market needs planes, and with Airbus sold out, airlines are returning to Boeing to meet capacity growth.
