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Airbus has officially claimed one of the most significant milestones in commercial aviation history. The Airbus A320 family of aircraft has surpassed the Boeing 737 as the most-delivered jetliner of all time.
According to industry data from Cirium, Airbus reached this record with the delivery of its 12,260th A320-family aircraft to Saudi carrier Flynas on October 6th. This delivery moved Airbus just ahead of Boeing’s 737 line, which stands at 12,259 aircraft delivered since its introduction in 1968.
The Airbus A320 program, launched in 1984, marked a turning point in commercial aviation with its introduction of fly-by-wire technology, fuel efficiency, and versatile design. The first A320 entered service with Air France in 1988, beginning a legacy that now includes four variants: the A318, A319, A320, and A321.
The Airbus A320 family has become the backbone of short- and medium-haul aviation worldwide, serving hundreds of airlines across six continents. Its ongoing popularity stems from a combination of low operating costs, modernized cabin comfort, and continual innovation through the Airbus A320neo series, which offers enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.
Boeing’s 737 program had a two-decade head start, with the first 737-100 delivered to Lufthansa in 1968. The jet became an icon of aviation, dominating global skies for more than five decades and evolving through multiple generations, including the 737 Classic, Next Generation (NG), and MAX variants.
However, Boeing’s recent challenges have slowed its production momentum. The grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX in 2019 following two fatal crashes, coupled with ongoing certification delays for the MAX 7 and MAX 10, and supply chain issues affecting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, have disrupted deliveries and weakened the company’s pace.
In contrast, Airbus has successfully ramped up A320neo production and is now delivering aircraft at nearly twice Boeing’s rate. With robust demand from both low-cost and full-service carriers, the A320 family continues to serve as the cornerstone of Airbus’ success.
Anthony’s Take: Congrats to Airbus on pulling ahead of Boeing. It’s been a rough time for the US manufacturer. I might be one of the only travel bloggers with this stance, but I don’t have a preference between Airbus and Boeing.
(Image Credits: Airbus and Boeing.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
