Paris, December 11 - In a candid admission that underscores the fierce competition in the global aviation market, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has acknowledged that Boeing is poised to claim victory in the 2025 aircraft order race. Speaking on French radio station France Inter, Faury highlighted Boeing's commanding lead in net orders, projecting it to secure a higher share for the first time in six years. This shift arrives amid robust demand for wide-body jets and strategic resolutions to U.S. tariff disputes, which have bolstered Boeing's sales campaigns. As airlines worldwide navigate post-pandemic recovery and fleet modernization, Faury's remarks signal a pivotal moment for the duopoly dominating commercial aircraft manufacturing.
Boeing's edge stems from impressive order inflows, with 908 net orders recorded from January through November, outpacing Airbus's 700 in the same period. The 787 Dreamliner has emerged as a standout performer, drawing strong interest from long-haul carriers eager for fuel-efficient wide-body options. Analysts attribute part of this surge to geopolitical maneuvers, where Asian airlines accelerated Boeing purchases or announced deferred deals to mitigate trade frictions with Washington. These tariff settlements, facilitated by U.S. export promotion efforts, have effectively timed new business to Boeing's advantage. Meanwhile, Airbus continues to excel in the single-aisle segment, led by the versatile A321neo, but has faced delays in sealing anticipated mega-orders, including ongoing talks for up to 500 jets from China.
Despite the looming defeat in new orders, Faury emphasized Airbus's enduring strengths in aircraft deliveries and backlog, metrics that affirm its position as the world's top jet producer. The European giant maintains a substantially larger pipeline of undelivered planes, ensuring sustained revenue through 2030 and beyond. This order shortfall does not erode Airbus's operational momentum; recent approvals for delivering 120 aircraft to Chinese customers underscore its reliability in execution. Boeing, while gaining ground on paper commitments, grapples with production ramp-ups and certification hurdles that could temper its delivery cadence in the coming years.
Looking ahead, the 2025 aircraft order race highlights broader trends in aviation industry dynamics, where trade policies and technological appeal intersect to reshape market shares. For investors and stakeholders tracking Boeing vs Airbus competition, Faury's forthright assessment invites scrutiny of long-term strategies amid rising demand for sustainable fleets. As both manufacturers innovate toward greener propulsion and digital integration, this year's tilt toward Boeing may prove a fleeting anomaly in an era of escalating air travel volumes.