Boeing deliveries rebound as production stabilises

IBA, the aviation market intelligence and advisory firm, has reported that Boeing aircraft deliveries in 2025 rose by 69% year-on-year compared with 2024 and were 16% above 2023 levels, signalling a strong recovery and helping to stabilise global aircraft production.

Analysis from Stuart Hatcher, Chief Economist and Chief Data Officer at IBA, together with IBA Insight, shows that Boeing delivered 537 aircraft in 2025 (including 737 and 767 military units), compared with 318 at the same point in 2024, as production and delivery performance continued to normalise. A further four 737 MAX aircraft were delivered by the end of the first week of December, with an additional 110 built, of which 74 were already in test flight.

The improvement has been supported by progress in clearing previously built inventory and by shorter delivery timelines. Average time from first flight to delivery fell to 37 days in 2025, excluding 27 aircraft that exceeded 365 days, compared with 47 days for the sub-365-day group in 2024. This has supported stronger cash flow for Boeing. FAA approval to increase the 737 MAX monthly production rate from 38 to 42 aircraft is expected to further support output going forward.

Airbus delivered 657 commercial aircraft and five A400Ms by the end of November 2025, with a further 15 deliveries recorded in the first week of December. While deliveries were broadly stable year-on-year, BFE and engine availability constrained performance in 2025, leading Airbus to revise its full-year target from 820 to 790 aircraft. By early December, the December delivery target of 133 appeared highly achievable, with 15 already delivered, 105 in flight test, 38 fitted with engines, and 127 aircraft having left the factory and awaiting engines to feed first-quarter output.

Performance among other OEMs was mixed in 2025. Embraer increased deliveries year-on-year to 66 aircraft from 55 in 2024, while ATR and COMAC recorded year-on-year declines, delivering 18 and 29 aircraft respectively, despite substantial order backlogs.

Across the market as a whole, total aircraft production in 2025 is projected to reach between 1,520 and 1,530 units across Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, ATR and COMAC. This includes passenger, VIP and military variants based on commercial platforms. Output is broadly in line with 2014 levels, but remains below the 2018 peak of 1,770 aircraft.

Although overall production remains below historical highs, analysts note that continued delivery discipline and sustained demand are supporting a resilient market outlook across both narrow-body and wide-body segments.