Boeing $BA ( ▼ 1.67% ) is finally back in the pilot’s seat.
After years of safety scandals, production chaos, and labor disruptions, the US plane maker overtook Airbus on aircraft orders in 2025, reclaiming the industry’s sales crown for the first time since 2018.
Boeing Wins the Order Battle Again
Boeing logged 1,173 net aircraft orders in 2025, beating Airbus’ 889.
That is a major milestone for Boeing, given how brutal the last several years have been for the company’s reputation and output.
The surge was powered by a wave of airline deals, many of which were announced alongside government-led trade negotiations.
A key highlight: Boeing’s largest-ever order from Qatar Airways, announced during President Trump’s Middle East tour.
Deliveries Still Lag Airbus (But Boeing Improved)
Orders are great.
Deliveries are what actually gets you paid.
Boeing delivered 600 planes in 2025, its highest annual total since 2018. That is a huge bounce back, but still well below Airbus’ 793 deliveries.
A big reason: engine shortages across the industry that delayed production, on top of Boeing’s own lingering operational issues.
Boeing’s 2018–2024 Era Was a Full-Scale Crisis
This order comeback matters because Boeing has been operating in survival mode since 2018.
The company has faced:
two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max
a major 2024 incident where a door blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 mid-flight
tighter production limits from regulators
a seven-week labor strike that further disrupted output
In other words: Boeing has spent years trying to stop the plane from falling apart midair, literally and financially.
Ortberg’s Boeing: Stabilize, Repair, Repeat
Under CEO Kelly Ortberg, Boeing has focused on:
stabilizing production
improving labor relations
strengthening the balance sheet
And in late 2025, the FAA eased restrictions, raising caps on 737 Max production, which helped the recovery narrative gain real traction.
The 2026 Momentum Is Already Rolling
The rebound is not just a 2025 story.
Boeing has already started stacking orders in 2026, including:
a 110-plane order from Alaska Airlines, the largest in that airline’s history
an order from Delta $DAL for at least 30 Dreamliners, with deliveries planned in the early 2030s
Bottom line: Boeing $BA is still behind Airbus on deliveries, but it just won the order war in 2025 for the first time in seven years, and the airline deal pipeline is starting to look like a real comeback instead of a temporary bounce.