Airbus delivered 793 aircraft in 2025, surpassing its revised target of 790 and finishing the year near the upper end of its delivery guidance after a strong December.

Supply-chain and quality-control hurdles, including defective A320 panels and a software vulnerability, prompted proactive mitigations such as supplier watchtowers, on-site support, and a software rollback/recall to protect safety and reliability.

Looking ahead to 2026, Airbus aims to stabilize supply chains, deepen collaboration with key suppliers, and maintain delivery reliability and margins amid geopolitical and policy headwinds.

To secure parts supply and expand capacity, Airbus is acquiring Spirit AeroSystems assets tied to the A320 and A220, while boosting digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 capabilities to improve quality and flexibility.

Delivery figures for Airbus and its main competitor Boeing remain key indicators of financial health and cash flow, reflecting the state of the global component supply chain.

The 2025 challenges, including recalls and software fixes, set the stage for a backlog above 8,600 aircraft by 2026, signaling a shift in market leadership toward Airbus.

Airbus expanded its production footprint with new Final Assembly Lines in Mobile and Tianjin, and plans a reactivation of an A320-family line at the former A380 site in Europe to improve resilience against regional disruptions.

Efforts to lift output include aiming for an A321-ready state across new FALs, increasing automation, and supporting higher 2026 output, including work on A320 rear center fuel tanks for the A321XLR at Augsburg.

In 2025, Airbus overtook Boeing to become the world's largest airplane maker by deliveries, with the A320 family delivering the most aircraft in aviation history, while Boeing faced ongoing quality issues and a challenging production outlook.

A late-2025 recall affecting about 6,000 A320-family aircraft due to a solar-radiation-related software vulnerability disrupted operations but was largely resolved by year-end, with ongoing hardware upgrades for some older planes.

Airbus is slated to publish its official annual results and verified orders and deliveries after markets close on January 12, 2026, detailing 2025 performance and 2026 priorities.

Despite softer new orders, Airbus remains technologically advantaged with the A321XLR and A350, emphasizing digital manufacturing and automation to improve quality and cost competitiveness.