Airbus A320 family overtakes Boeing 737 as the world’s best-selling aircraft

The world’s most iconic aviation rivalry has reached a historic turning point: Airbus’ A320 family has officially surpassed Boeing’s 737 to become the best-selling aircraft in history, ending Boeing’s half-century reign that began in 1968.

The record was broken with the delivery of an A320neo to Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas, bringing total A320-family deliveries to 12,260 aircraft — just one ahead of Boeing’s 737 line.

While Airbus had already overtaken Boeing in total orders back in 2019, the delivery crown remained one of Boeing’s last symbolic victories. That changed this week, as Airbus’ consistent output and the success of its A320neo programme—offering lower fuel burn, longer range and reduced emissions—pushed it into first place.

Boeing’s own single-aisle production, meanwhile, has been hampered by years of disruption following the 737 MAX grounding in 2019 and continuing quality-control issues that slowed output at its Renton plant.

The milestone highlights a shift in the balance of power between the world’s two aerospace giants. With more than 500 aircraft delivered so far in 2025, Airbus now holds a commanding lead in the crucial single-aisle market, which forms the backbone of global airline operations.

According to Airbus’ latest delivery update, the European manufacturer delivered 73 aircraft to 41 customers in September 2025, bringing its year-to-date total to 507 aircraft across all families.