Airbus A320 Beats Boeing 737

Airbus has reportedly reached a landmark milestone with the A320 program, surpassing its competitor’s product, the Boeing 737.

Le Monde reports that Airbus has surpassed Boeing’s 58-year-long achievement, becoming the best-selling commercial aircraft after three decades of continuous work and deliveries.

While figures have yet to be formally confirmed, Le Monde reports, based on its available data, that at the end of August, the planemakers were closely together, with Boeing holding a narrow lead of just under 20 units.

However, at the end of September, Airbus was able to enjoy yet another strong month, with higher production levels for its narrowbody jet, and as a result, overtook the American planemaker with its A320 program.

Airbus’ Stability Over Boeing

For Airbus to achieve such a feat, following hard work and pushing a product to customers that stacks up nicely against the 737, Airbus has had to give airlines a reason to purchase the A320 family, and more often than not, it has done so.

However, for Airbus to overtake the 737, as reported, what cannot be underestimated is the stability that the manufacturer has achieved over recent years.

That stability is broadly comparable to what has been going on at competitor planemaker Boeing, which has had an incredibly turbulent last half-decade, affecting its output rate.

Over the last five-plus years, Boeing has experienced repeated groundings of its 737 program, resulting in reduced output levels, halted production, and other consequences.

Data supports the struggles with yearly delivery rates falling off a cliff, more significantly so, as seen with Boeing from the late-2010s to the early-2020s. Although the pandemic affected this period, it didn’t alleviate the pressures; instead, it made the challenges even more pronounced due to the program’s status.

Additionally, even after the COVID-19 pandemic eased and restrictions were lifted, Boeing continued to struggle with output levels, and the program has not increased at the same rate as Airbus and the A320.

The 737 still has production rates capped, whereas Airbus fights its own battles stemming from supply chain constraints, which have hampered its output levels. However, it certainly has no overarching regulator watching over its every move.

As a result, the cumulative deliveries of the A320 over time generally do not come as a surprise, but one that Boeing would ideally want to regain when it moves ahead with its next commercial airliner in the single-aisle division.

Looking Ahead For Boeing’s

While Boeing’s next iteration in the single-aisle segment will not only enhance safety but also offer longer performance, this will likely mean that damage is already done for the current models.

Airbus has been able to capitalise on Boeing’s misfortunes with the development of new derivatives, such as the A321XLR. This extended-range model has been able to take the industry by storm with capabilities not rivalled by Boeing.

Additionally, 737 MAX variants remain uncertified, still a decade on, which has not only affected delivery rates but also prompted some airlines to seek more Airbus narrowbody jets, as they know they can obtain them sooner rather than later.

As a result, the backlog of remaining deliveries for the A320 family remains significantly healthier than that of the 737, while both are strong; it’s Airbus that leads the way in the coming years.

The success of the A320neo comes as no surprise and is something that Boeing arguably has never been able to combat. The breakthrough new model caught Boeing off guard and spiralled Airbus’ rival into the position it finds itself in today.

With Boeing caught off guard, it needed to move ahead quickly with a new model of its 737NG to counter sales, which became the 737 MAX.

As a relatively quick re-engine, it has been commercially successful; however, it has also seen corners cut, resulting in fatal accidents and other incidents that have tarnished its image.

Now, both planemakers are working through their backlogs while still selling aircraft; additionally, they are focusing on the future with the release of the next single-aisle product to replace these existing models.