Boeing Outpaces Airbus in Aircraft Deliveries During First Quarter
Boeing delivered 46 aircraft in March, a figure lower than the 51 recorded the previous month due to wiring rework required on approximately 25 units of the 737 MAX model. Despite this technical setback, the American manufacturer managed to surpass its European competitor in total deliveries for the first quarter of the year.
Operational Impact of the 737 MAX Adjustments
During the third month of the year, Boeing’s delivery pace was affected by the need to repair damaged wiring in a portion of its 737 MAX fleet. While the company did not disclose the exact number of deliveries delayed by this process, Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave previously indicated that 10 deliveries were expected to shift into the second quarter.
Despite this logistical adjustment, company leadership maintains that this incident will not impact the total delivery target for the 737 MAX scheduled for year-end.
March Delivery Breakdown
The manufacturer distributed a diverse fleet during the month, highlighting the following models:
- 33 units of the 737 MAX.
- 7 units of the 787 Dreamliner.
- 3 777 Freighters.
- 1 767 Freighter.
- Military Aircraft: One 737 Next Generation for P-8 conversion (U.S. Navy) and one 767 for KC-46 aerial refueling tanker conversion (U.S. Air Force).
Comparatively, the 46 deliveries this month represent an increase over the 41 units registered in March 2025.
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First Quarter Balance: Boeing vs. Airbus
In the global comparison for the first quarter, Boeing reached 143 deliveries, surpassing the 114 recorded by its rival, Airbus. The European manufacturer has been recently limited by engine shortages, allowing the American firm to take the lead at the start of the year.
However, in the individual analysis for March, Airbus delivered 60 aircraft, outperforming Boeing’s 46. It is worth noting that Boeing has trailed its European competitor in terms of total annual deliveries since 2018—a critical metric for investors, as this is the point at which manufacturers receive the bulk of the payment for the aircraft.
Commercial Activity and Order Book
In terms of sales, Boeing reported 33 new gross orders in March. After two cancellations by Air Europa and Enter Air, the result was 31 net orders.
Notable New Orders:
- 20 units of the 737 MAX (unidentified customers).
- 5 units of the 737 NG (unidentified customers).
- 8 units of the 787 Dreamliner (unidentified customers).
By the end of the first quarter, the company adjusted its total figure to 149 new net orders.
Current Status of the Backlog
Boeing closed the month of March with a robust backlog amounting to 6,127 aircraft, ensuring a prolonged workload for its production plants. The pending inventory is distributed as follows:
| Aircraft Model | Pending Units |
|---|---|
| 737 | 4,368 |
| 787 | 1,059 |
| 777 | 606 |
| 767 | 94 |
This order volume underscores the resilience of demand in the narrow-body and wide-body markets, despite the technical and supply chain challenges currently facing the global aerospace industry.
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