Boeing Q1 Deliveries Rise 56% but Trail Airbus
Boeing reported delivering 130 aircraft in the first quarter of 2025, a 56.6 percent increase in commercial jet deliveries compared with the same period a year earlier, yet still six fewer than European rival Airbus’s 136 jets. On March 8, Boeing disclosed that its commercial division delivered 105 737s, 13 787 Dreamliners, five 767s and seven 777s between January and March, up from just 83 commercial aircraft in Q1 2024, when it processed 67 737s, 13 787s and three 767s.
The surge in Boeing’s commercial output reflects a rebound from the challenges that plagued much of 2024, when a seven‑week labor strike and a door‑plug safety incident led the FAA to cap 737 MAX production at 38 units per month. Those disruptions contributed to Boeing delivering 180 fewer commercial jets in 2024 than in 2023, a setback from which the company is now recovering.
Boeing’s defense arm also saw robust growth, with its Defense, Space & Security division delivering 26 aircraft in Q1 2025, up from 14 in the prior year. That total included 11 rebuilt and four new AH‑64 Apache helicopters, five F/A‑18 Super Hornets, two overhauled and one new CH‑47 Chinook, as well as one F‑15 Eagle fighter, one P‑8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and one MH‑139A Grey Wolf helicopter. By contrast, Q1 2024 deliveries included six remanufactured Apaches, a single new Chinook, one Super Hornet and three KC‑46 Pegasus tankers. Notably, the KC‑46 did not record any deliveries in the first quarter of 2025.
Despite Boeing’s gains over last year, Airbus maintained the edge in early 2025, delivering 136 commercial jets in Q1. Airbus’s higher output underscores the competitiveness of the widebody market, where both manufacturers are vying to fulfill strong passenger demand for fuel‑efficient twin‑aisle aircraft and single‑aisle workhorses as global air travel continues its post‑pandemic recovery.
Boeing’s 737 MAX series remains the backbone of its commercial fleet, accounting for more than 80 percent of Q1 deliveries. The manufacturer is working to restore its production cadence following the FAA’s rate limits and to reassure customers about safety in the wake of last year’s quality concerns. Boeing has been streamlining its supply chain, implementing enhanced factory inspections and collaborating closely with regulators to raise production rates without compromising oversight.
On the defense side, Boeing’s expanded deliveries reflect ongoing contracts with the U.S. armed forces and allied nations, which are upgrading helicopter fleets and maritime patrol capabilities. The rise in Apache re‑manufactures and the introduction of the MH‑139A Grey Wolf—a replacement for aging UH‑1N Hueys—highlight Boeing’s strategy to balance new production with cost‑effective remanufacturing programs.
Looking ahead, Boeing aims to further narrow the gap with Airbus as the year progresses, leveraging its backlog of more than 5,000 undisclosed commercial orders and continuing to ramp up 737 MAX and widebody production. The company has projected that by the end of 2025, roughly 90 percent of its commercial fleet will be equipped with satellite‑based broadband Wi‑Fi capabilities, another key differentiation in the rapidly evolving airline market.
As Boeing navigates a complex landscape of labor negotiations, regulatory scrutiny and technological innovation, its Q1 2025 delivery figures offer both a sign of recovery and a reminder of the hurdles it must overcome. With global air travel demand projected to grow steadily through 2030, the contest between Boeing and Airbus for market leadership remains as intense as ever.
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