Airbus A320 Set to Become Worlds Most Popular Aircraft, Says Jens Flottau

The Airbus A320 family is on the cusp of taking a title that has defined commercial aviation for decades: the world’s most delivered jet. As of July 2025, Airbus has handed over 12,151 A320-family aircraft, compared with 12,171 Boeing 737s, a gap of just 20 deliveries that is shrinking fast. Airbus’s stronger production pace this year—paired with a much larger order book—has set up a likely crossover as soon as late summer 2025. The numbers tell a clear story: airlines continue to favor efficient single-aisle jets, and Airbus is better positioned right now to meet that demand. The stakes are high for carriers, workers, and suppliers across the global aviation chain.

Airbus’s near-term lead rests on both momentum and math. Through July 2025, Airbus delivered 286 A320-family jets (232 in the first half of the year), and 373 commercial aircraft across all models to 72 customers, with 67 deliveries in July alone. The company has reiterated a push toward a production rate of 75 A320-family aircraft per month by 2027, even as engine shortages continue to delay some handovers. The Boeing 737 line, still rebuilding after years of disruptions, is not matching that tempo, which is why the two programs’ lifetime totals—once comfortably in Boeing’s favor—are now converging.

The deeper force behind this shift is the order book. As of July 2025, the A320 family stood at 19,285 total orders, while the Boeing 737 family recorded 17,037. Airbus holds a backlog of more than 7,000 A320-family aircraft, and the A321neo—the stretched, long-range variant—accounts for about 60% of those yet to be delivered. The A321neo has become the most-ordered single variant in commercial aviation history, ahead of Boeing’s 737-800. Airlines want a flexible airplane that can handle heavy domestic demand and thinner long routes; the A321neo has fit that role well. With so many A320-family jets waiting in line to be built, Airbus’s rise in cumulative deliveries looks like a matter of time, not chance.

In July 2025, Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury acknowledged that deliveries are “backloaded” this year due to ongoing engine supply issues, but he reaffirmed both the company’s 2025 guidance and the long-term monthly rate target. Airbus also reported a strong intake in the first half of 2025—494 gross orders and 402 net orders—and a total commercial backlog of 8,754 aircraft at the end of June. That large backlog is not only a sign of demand; it’s also a buffer when parts shortages or quality checks slow the line. Airbus can sequence work and maintain steady output because it has so many aircraft in the queue.

Why Airlines Are Choosing the A320 Family

The A320 family’s rise is grounded in clear airline needs. Carriers are under pressure to reduce fuel burn, fly consistent schedules with high reliability, and keep crews productive across different aircraft types. The A320neo family checks those boxes.

• Operational benefits
  • Fuel savings and improved economics versus older single-aisle jets
  • Cockpit commonality across Airbus types, simplifying pilot training and scheduling
  • Flexible capacity from A320 to A321neo that suits domestic and long-narrowbody routes
• Ecosystem and support
  • Predictive maintenance, training solutions, and supply services that reduce downtime
  • Commonality with A330 and A350 fleets helps maintenance planning and spare parts management

For a network planner balancing costs and growth, the A320 family offers a toolkit that keeps operations predictable.

Boeing’s Position and Regulatory Context

Boeing still has a massive installed base and strong partnerships—especially in the U.S.—but continues to wrestle with production bottlenecks and regulatory oversight linked to the 737 program’s recent history. The 737 MAX crisis triggered more than 1,000 cancellations after the global grounding, even as Boeing worked through safety fixes and inspections.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s return-to-service actions and continuing oversight frame the regulatory side of that recovery in the United States. For official details, see the Federal Aviation Administration’s 737 MAX resource.

Geographic Trends and Long-Range Demand

Airbus benefits from geographic spread. Asia-Pacific airlines continue to drive large-scale orders for efficient single-aisle jets, with India’s IndiGo placing a record 500-unit order for the A320neo family in 2023. Airbus’s long-range forecast captures broader trends:

• Passenger traffic projected to grow about 3.6% annually over the next two decades
• Demand for 43,400 new aircraft, including 34,250 single-aisle jets

Given that outlook, the A320 family sits at the center of many carriers’ fleet plans through the 2030s and 2040s. A doubled global fleet by 2044 implies major investments in pilots, maintenance, spare parts pools, and training—areas where Airbus’s commonality and support network have strategic value.

Production Constraints and Supply-Chain Risks

Airbus’s scaling effort is not without friction. Engine supply remains a constraint, and any disruption can ripple across the schedule, pushing deliveries into later months. Faury’s reference to “backloaded” handovers reflects this balancing act: coordinate with engine makers, keep production stable, and still meet guidance.

By July 2025, Airbus had delivered 286 A320-family jets, showing resilience, but the final months of the year could carry a heavier load if engine supplies improve. Airbus still targets a long-term ramp to 75 per month by 2027.

Boeing’s immediate challenge is to restore a steady cadence and rebuild confidence among regulators and customers. With Airbus just 20 deliveries behind in July and running ahead on monthly output, analysts say the crossover is imminent. Once Airbus takes the lifetime lead, its larger backlog could keep it ahead for years.

Financial Stakes and Market Value

The A320 family’s order book was valued at about €629 billion in 2024, according to Airbus. That figure covers aircraft prices as well as services, support programs, and long-term maintenance partnerships. The A321neo’s outsized share of the backlog matters because airlines increasingly want its added range and seat count without adding a new fleet type.

Common use-cases where the A321neo is particularly valuable:

• U.S. transcontinental routes
• High-density leisure routes
• Growing secondary markets in Asia

Historical Context and Symbolism

Some milestones underline why this moment matters:

• A320 family passed 10,000 deliveries in August 2021, a milestone the Boeing 737 took roughly five decades to reach.
• In December 2023, the A320neo family became the first airliner generation to hit 10,000 orders.

A handover lead in 2025 would mark a symbolic shift in the rivalry that has defined short-haul global flying for decades.

“A handover lead in 2025 would mark a milestone for the Toulouse-based manufacturer and a turning point in a rivalry that has defined how most of us fly.”

Industry and Socioeconomic Impacts

A dominant single-aisle program drives jobs across manufacturing, engines, avionics, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul). It shapes training needs for pilots and technicians, influences airport processes, and affects financing and leasing markets as residual values shift.

For passengers, fleet decisions affect cabin experience, noise levels, and nonstop route options. The A320neo’s fuel savings can help carriers keep fares competitive when fuel prices rise. If Airbus keeps deliveries flowing, travelers will see more of these aircraft replacing older, less efficient jets.

Independent Analysis and Sources

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, macro trends—like Asia-Pacific growth and airlines’ push to cut operating costs—align with Airbus’s backlog profile and planned rate increases. The site’s readout echoes industry sentiment: it’s not just headline orders; it’s who can deliver consistently over the next five to ten years.

Airbus’s own reporting supports the near-term picture. See the company’s delivery data and forecasts here:

• Airbus Orders and Deliveries: https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/market/orders-and-deliveries
• Airbus Global Market Forecast: https://www.airbus.com/en/products-services/commercial-aircraft/market/global-market-forecast

Production Pace and Order Book (Key Figures)

• Deliveries as of July 2025: A320 family 12,151 vs. 737 family 12,171 (gap: 20)
• 2025 A320-family deliveries (Jan–Jul): 286
• Airbus total deliveries by July 2025 (all models): 373 to 72 customers, with 67 in July
• Total orders (as of July 2025): A320 family 19,285 vs. 737 family 17,037
• A320-family backlog: 7,000+; A321neo is about 60% of that backlog
• Airbus target: 75 A320-family aircraft per month by 2027
• Airbus order book value for A320 family (2024): €629 billion
• Airbus H1 2025 results: 494 gross orders, 402 net orders, 8,754 total commercial backlog at June-end

These figures point to an inflection in cumulative counts and a longer runway for Airbus on the strength of backlog and planned rate increases. Services and support—training, parts pooling, predictive maintenance—sit behind each delivery and help airlines keep schedules intact.

Implications for Stakeholders

• Airlines: Better fuel economics, fleet commonality, and flexible capacity planning.
• Suppliers: Increased pressure to deliver engines, avionics, interiors, and structural parts on schedule.
• Regulators: Continued oversight—especially in the U.S. for the 737 program—shapes production and certification timelines.
• Passengers: Newer cabins, quieter engines, and more nonstop choices as A320-family jets enter service.
• Local economies and training institutions: More jobs in MRO and pilot/technician training; airport infrastructure adjustments for fast turnarounds.
• Lessors & financiers: Residual value trends and lease structures respond to fleet popularity and delivery certainty.

Final Takeaway

Commercial aviation is cyclical, but lifetime delivery counts are hard-won. The A320 family’s expected move into first place reflects a decade-long climb powered by the A320neo program, the A321neo’s appeal, and Airbus’s ability to keep output stronger through supply-chain challenges. If Airbus takes the lead in 2025, the larger backlog makes a short-term reversal unlikely, signaling a potentially sustained shift in the single-aisle marketplace.

For up-to-date counts beyond July 2025, track Airbus’s monthly updates on the Airbus Orders and Deliveries page. For long-range demand context—including single-aisle growth to 34,250 units out of 43,400 total new aircraft—see the Airbus Global Market Forecast portal.