The Airbus A320 has surpassed the Boeing 737 as the most delivered commercial aircraft in history upon Saudi airline Flynas receiving the European manufacturer’s 12,260th jet.
According to a Reuters report on October 7, 2025, data from industry analysts Cirium shows that the A320 in question was delivered overnight, giving Airbus a slight lead over Boeing’s 737.
The A320 model includes the A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, while the Boeing 737 includes the original 737-100 and 737-200, right up to the current MAX jets.
The Airbus A320 program was launched in March 1984, with five companies including British Caledonian and Air France among the first to place an order.
The Airbus A320 family aircraft then made its first commercial flight in April 1988 with Air France, on a flight between Paris and Berlin via Düsseldorf.
The Boeing 737 had entered service two decades earlier in February 1968, with Lufthansa selected as the launch customer.
Airbus has previously said: “The A320 Family is the world’s most popular single-aisle aircraft family and the preferred choice with airlines, from the low cost carriers to new business models taking benefits of new levels of performance and comfort.”
Up until August 31, 2025, Airbus has delivered a total of 333 A320 family aircraft. This includes nine A319s, 114 A320s and 210 A321s.
Over the last decade, Boeing have navigated multiple crises involving its 737 aircraft, severely affecting its delivery output.
In 2018, all 189 people on Lion Air Flight 610 died in a crash. In 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed, killing all 157 onboard. Both planes were Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Then, in January 2024, a door plug separated from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 shortly after takeoff.
This incident led to restrictions on aircraft production and questions over Boeing’s safety and compliance procedures.
5 comments
If Boeing had created a new aircraft instead of “putting more lipstick on the pig”, perhaps Boeing would be in the lead.
Boeing lost its’ way when it became a money company instead of an engineering company.
Boeing hit its’ peak with the 757, 767, 777.
The 787 program showed problems within the company; rushing to roll out an unfinished prototype, resulted in months of delays to first flight.
Still, despite signs of company problems, the 787 found its’ way.
The current situation at Boeing is chaotic.
Rushing, kluging designs and production has resulted in accidents, deaths and financial crisis.
Boeing is years behind on the 777X;
Rushed and kluged design resulting in endless problems and delays.
Boeing is only now considering a new mid market aircraft; something that should have been done and in service by now.
Airbus is better at bamboozling customers into buying less economic aircraft.
Boeing’s fumbling has been a lifeline for Airbus.
Douglas was better at structures and aerodynamics; much worse at selling than Boeing.
Boeing bought Douglas, but discarded the value in what they bought.
The MD narrow body aircraft had better structures, aerodynamics, and economics.
So, Boeing phased them out in favour of legacy products being tweaked and kluged.
Boeing has lost it’s way;
Until that is recognised and rectified, Boeing will continue to struggle.
(Oh yeah; the US “Administration” bullying countries into buying Boeing, will not ultimately solve the problem)
I take exception to this; because the moment Airbus decided to designate the larger model as the A321, it became a separate aircraft. Therefore, only the A320 counts, and it is far behind the total for all models of 737. Otherwise, Boeing could claim that the total for all 707, 727, 737 and 757 aircraft produced could be counted.
The A321 is still part of the A320 family, just like the 737-900, which is counted for Boeing, so the A321 should count.
Thanks 😊
The long-standing record of Boeing’s legendary workhorse was finally broken… Go A320, go!
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