Airframers accelerate: 2025 marks a turning point – but not the take-off airlines had hoped for
After years of turbulence, the global airframe manufacturing sector is finally finding clearer skies in 2025 - but the climb is proving shallower than many airlines had banked on.
Airbus and Boeing have lifted deliveries to their highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, yet persistent supply chain knots and uneven industrial recoveries mean the long-awaited surge in output remains elusive.
With just over 1,060 aircraft handed over by Oct-2025, both OEMs are gearing up for a year-end sprint to meet ambitious production targets and ease the delivery frustrations of operators hungry for capacity renewal.
Beneath the headline numbers, however, the story is one of contrasting trajectories: Airbus pressing ahead with measured ramp-ups across its narrowbody and widebody lines, and Boeing striving to stabilise its manufacturing ecosystem after years of upheaval.
Meanwhile, Embraer - often overlooked in the glare of its larger rivals - quietly posts its strongest backlog in a decade, underscoring shifting dynamics in the global supply landscape.
- Aircraft deliveries in 2025 are up compared with previous years, but output growth remains below pre-pandemic peaks and airline expectations.
- Airbus and Boeing delivered a combined 1,060 commercial aircraft by Oct-2025, with both manufacturers planning a year-end production surge to meet ambitious annual targets.
- Airbus is experiencing modest production increases, particularly in the A220 and A320neo lines, but continues to face supply chain challenges; especially with engines and cabin equipment.
- Boeing has significantly increased deliveries year-on-year as it recovers from regulatory and production setbacks, but ongoing labour disputes and quality control issues still impact its output.
- Embraer is quietly raising its production, achieving its strongest order backlog in a decade and targeting up to 85 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025.
- Supply chain improvements, especially in engine availability, are helping OEMs ramp up output, but persistent bottlenecks and workforce challenges continue to limit the pace of recovery.