The aviation industry has witnessed a historic milestone as Airbus officially surpassed Boeing in commercial aircraft sales. According to data from Cirium, the delivery of an A320neo jet to Saudi carrier Flynas made the Airbus A320 family the best-selling passenger aircraft in history, with 12,260 deliveries since 1988.
This marks the end of Boeing’s decades-long dominance with its legendary 737 series, which has been the backbone of global air travel since the late 1960s. However, production delays, the 737 MAX crisis, and supply chain challenges have hindered Boeing’s recent momentum, allowing Airbus to seize the lead through consistent output and its fuel-efficient neo series.
Industry analysts believe it will be difficult for Boeing to close the gap anytime soon unless it introduces a new generation of aircraft beyond the 737 platform. The rivalry between the two aerospace giants is expected to intensify as both explore more sustainable, next-generation models.
Both the A320 and 737 families remain the workhorses of modern aviation, especially for low-cost carriers that have fueled global demand in recent years. Together, the two manufacturers have delivered over 25,000 aircraft, symbolizing a fiercely competitive yet transformative era for commercial flight.