WASHINGTON - The data and commentary presented in this article offer a high-level overview of Airbus and Boeing based strictly on publicly disclosed information. Our comprehensive Commercial Aircraft OEM Intelligence Brief incorporates broader performance indicators not disclosed by OEMs to evaluate the true health and execution of commercial aircraft programs. For in-depth OEM analysis and program-level insights, explore the full Commercial Aircraft OEM Intelligence Brief.
Commercial aircraft delivery and order activity moderated in August 2026 following strong order intake from the Farnborough airshow and increasing delivery rates in the summer months. Airbus delivered 57 commercial aircraft during the month, bringing its total 2026 deliveries to 475 aircraft out of a delivery target of 870 units in 2026. This maintains the manufacturer’s lead over Boeing, which delivered 51 aircraft in August to reach a year-to-date total of 418 deliveries. While Airbus’s monthly delivery pace slowed compared to July’s strong performance, it maintains a 57-aircraft lead over Boeing through the first eight months of the year.
Like deliveries, order intake returned to a more modest pace in August after July’s surge driven by major commercial commitments at the Farnborough Airshow. Airbus recorded only 67 gross orders in August, led primarily by narrowbody and A350 commitments. On the other hand, Boeing logged a quieter month with 15 gross orders, predominantly driven by 787 demand. This performance pushed Airbus’s year-to-date order intake to 1,157 gross orders, while Boeing reached 498 aircraft, maintaining Airbus’s overall sales lead at 659 aircraft through August 30th
Boeing deliveries were steady in August, with 51 commercial jets delivered during the month compared to 53 in July. The single-aisle sector remained the primary driver, accounting for 42 737 family aircraft, a total that included 32 737 MAX 8s, nine 737 MAX 9s, and a single 737-800A. While delivering 41 737 MAX aircraft in August is a strong sign that the program is nearing its 42-per-month rate, output has yet to fully settle at this rate on a consistent basis. However, a transition to a consistent 42 per month rate is likely in the near term. With Boeing achieving MAX 7 certification in early August and holding a substantial number of these aircraft built for Southwest, initial deliveries will draw directly from this stored inventory, boosting overall delivery rates as parked aircraft are cleared.
As for widebodies, Boeing delivered nine twin-aisle aircraft in August, down from 14 in July. This segment consisted of four 787 Dreamliners (comprising three -9 variants and one -10 model), three 767s (comprising one -2C variant and two -300Fs), and two 777 Freighters. Deliveries for the Dreamliner show continued degradation in the performance of the program as production has decoupled from the target rate earlier in the year and deliveries have been volatile even with ongoing stored inventory available le for Boeing to draw down from.
Airbus deliveries continued to decline from earlier summer peaks, with the manufacturer handing over 57 jets in August following 67 aircraft in July and its year-to-date high of 89 in June. Single-aisle aircraft accounted for 53 of these deliveries, which included 43 A320neo family jets (comprising 26 A321neos, 16 A320neos, and one A319neo) alongside 10 A220-300s. The A220 served as a main bright spot for the month, hinting at a potential upward rate shift for a program that has remained stabilized at 8 aircraft per month for over a year. However, whether this represents a true transition remains to be seen, as consecutive months of deliveries above 8 aircraft will be necessary to confirm a consistent higher rate. Meanwhile, the widebody segment added just four aircraft to the monthly total, consisting of three A350-1000s and a single A330-900. The A350 continues to struggle with no immediate signs of improvement, remaining unable to achieve a consistent rate of 6 aircraft per month.
With 475 total deliveries through the first eight months of the year, Airbus has cemented its delivery lead over Boeing for 2026. While declining delivery numbers in August and previous months have not yet derailed Airbus from its annual delivery goal of approximately 870 aircraft, ongoing underperformance on the widebody side is increasing the risk to its timeline. The manufacturer currently trails the historical delivery pace required to reach the 870-aircraft mark, making its ability to hit that target, let alone its ambitious internal goal of 900 units, entirely dependent on an aggressive fourth-quarter surge. On the other hand, Boeing continues to lag behind Airbus in total deliveries, but has shown steady and consistent trends, keeping the manufacturer well on track to meet our annual delivery forecast for 2026.
After a subdued showing in July, Boeing’s order intake remained light in August, securing 15 new gross commitments. Demand was almost entirely concentrated in the widebody sector, where the 787 Dreamliner program captured 13 orders, comprising 11 787-9s and two 787-10s. The narrowbody segment saw limited activity with just two 737 MAX bookings, while the 767 and 777 platforms logged no new orders for the month. These latest additions brought Boeing’s year-to-date gross order tally to 498 aircraft through August 30th. Despite this steady accumulation of orders throughout the year, the U.S. manufacturer remains far behind Airbus, which continues to command more than twice Boeing’s order total for 2026.
For consistency, this article does not include Boeing’s ASC 606 accounting adjustments and considers net orders as gross orders minus cancellations.
Following a high volume of sales during the July airshow season, Airbus recorded a more tempered 67 gross commitments in August. Single-aisle jets accounted for most of the monthly intake with 44 narrowbody orders, split between 40 A321neos and four A220-300s. Widebody sales also contributed meaningfully, driven by 23 gross orders for the A350 (comprising 15 A350-900s and eight A350Fs), while the A330 family saw no new order activity. The August sales pushed Airbus’s 2026 total to 1,157 gross orders through August 30th, further widening its substantial lead over Boeing.
Airbus’s backlog expanded further in August, with new orders continuing to exceed monthly delivery levels. The manufacturer’s total backlog reached 9,362 aircraft, reflecting a net increase of 10 aircraft compared to July. Narrowbodies continue to make up the majority of Airbus’ portfolio, led by 7,571 unfilled orders for the A320neo family and 568 commitments for the A220. The widebody side for Airbus is much weaker compared to Boeing, as Widebody platforms account for only 1,223 twin-aisle aircraft in the queue, consisting of 890 orders for the A350 and 333 for the A330. Based on Airbus’s current annual target of approximately 870 deliveries, this total order volume provides roughly 10.8 years of production visibility.
On the Boeing side, the total commercial backlog contracted slightly to 6,748 aircraft at the end of August, representing a net decrease of 36 units as monthly deliveries outpaced new orders. Narrowbody aircraft form the bulk of Boeing’s remaining commitments, supported by 4,811 orders for the 737 family. The widebody segment comprises 1,937 aircraft, including 1,163 orders for the 787 Dreamliner, 696 for the 777 series, and 78 for the 767 program. At our forecasted delivery rate, Boeing’s current order book represents approximately 10.0 years of manufacturing output.
