WASHINGTON -- In September, Boeing delivered a total of 53 aircraft, including 40 narrowbodies and 13 widebodies, slightly below its September total of 55 deliveries. Airbus, meanwhile, handed over 78 aircraft, consisting of 68 narrowbodies and 10 widebodies, marking an increase from 73 deliveries in September. As of October 31st, Airbus has delivered 585 aircraft toward its 2025 target of 820, requiring an average of 117 deliveries per month over the remaining two months to meet its goal. Boeing has delivered 493 aircraft so far this year and, based on Forecast International’s projection of 590 total deliveries in 2025, will need to average just under 49 per month through year-end.
Deliveries
The 57 Boeing jets delivered in October included 39 737 MAXs, one 737NG, four 767s, two 777s, and seven 787s. MAX deliveries have remained steady in the 38 to 40 aircraft per month range, and we expect them to rise as Boeing ramps up production to its newly FAA-approved rate of 42 aircraft per month, up from the previous limit of 38. The 787 program also continues to perform well in both production and deliveries, with Boeing targeting an increase to eight aircraft per month, followed by 10 per month in 2026. In October, Boeing delivered seven 787s, consisting of four 787-9s and three 787-10s. Deliveries are being supported by a stabilized production rate of seven aircraft per month and the ongoing drawdown of remaining 787 inventory by year-end.
Meanwhile, Boeing has delivered a total of 31 777s through October, or an average of three aircraft per month. This average is in line with the manufacturer’s current production target rate of three 777s per month. Additionally, the first 777X delivery, which was scheduled for 2026 to Lufthansa, has now been pushed into 2027 due to ongoing certification delays.
In October, Airbus delivered 78 aircraft, including four A220s, 64 from the A320neo family, three A330s, and seven A350s. The A350 program continues to face challenges, averaging only four deliveries per month through the end of October. Although Airbus increased A320neo output during the month, Forecast International believes this improvement remains insufficient for the company to meet its annual delivery target. Based on current production rates for the A330neo, A350, and A220, Airbus would need to deliver 101 A320neo family aircraft across November and December, which is well above its long-term production rate target of 75 aircraft per month.
We remain somewhat surprised that Airbus has not revised its delivery goal downward, as it did in 2024. While Airbus delivered 84 aircraft in November and 123 in December last year, the ramp-up required in 2025 will need to be even greater. The remaining programs, including the A220, A350, and A330neo, are not expected to see significant increases in output for the rest of the year, meaning the A320neo family will once again need to drive overall deliveries for Airbus to reach its annual target.
In October, Airbus delivered four A220s, all of which were A220-300s. We consider production to be stabilized at around eight aircraft per month. Although four deliveries may appear weak, monthly production has remained consistent in the six-to-eight aircraft range, with fluctuations largely tied to delivery timing rather than manufacturing issues. Airbus recently revised its 2026 production rate target for the A220 downward from 14 aircraft per month to 12. This adjustment was not unexpected and aligns with our earlier view, given the current state of the program’s backlog and the soft order environment. While Airbus has not ruled out eventually reaching a rate of 14 aircraft per month, we continue to believe that such a target is not viable under present market conditions.
On the widebody side, Airbus delivered seven A350s in October, including five A350-900s and two A350-1000s. This brings total A350 deliveries in 2025 to 40 aircraft as of October 31st, averaging four per month for the year, which is well below the manufacturer’s targeted production rate of six aircraft per month. While seven deliveries in October exceeded that target rate, Airbus produced only five A350s during the month, highlighting ongoing production challenges. Deliveries have also fluctuated significantly, with just one A350 handed over in September.
We maintain the view that any near-term consideration of ramping up production to 10 aircraft per month is effectively off the table given the program’s current performance. The immediate priority for Airbus is to first increase and then stabilize production at its existing target rate of six aircraft per month.
Orders
In October, Boeing recorded 15 gross orders, including eight for the 737 MAX and seven for the 787. Year to date, Boeing has outpaced Airbus in gross orders, receiving a total of 836 through September 30 compared to 722 for Airbus. Meanwhile, Airbus had a strong month in September, highlighted by a large order for 100 A321neos from Vietjet. In October, Airbus received a total of 112 gross orders, including 100 for the A321neo, 10 additional orders for other A320neo family variants, and two for the A350.
Backlog
As of October 31st, 2025, Airbus reported a backlog of 8,686 jets, excluding the A320ceo and A330-200. Of this backlog, 7,630, or 87.8 percent, consisted of A220 and A320neo narrowbodies. Meanwhile, Boeing’s total unfilled orders before ASC 606 adjustments stood at 6,527 aircraft. Excluding the 737-700, 737-800, and 777-300ER, 4,775, or 73.2 percent, were 737 MAXs. Airbus’s backlog represents 10.6 years of production based on Forecast International’s 2025 production estimates, while Boeing’s backlog would last approximately 11.1 years.