Airbus delivered 60 commercial aircraft in March 2026, regaining the monthly lead from Boeing and posting a sharp recovery from its 35 deliveries in February. The European manufacturer also booked a striking 331 gross orders during the month, propelled by major fleet renewal commitments from lessors and Chinese carriers, while Boeing handed over 46 aircraft and remained ahead on a year to date basis through the first quarter.
Boeing closed the first quarter of 2026 with 143 aircraft delivered, against 114 for Airbus over the same period, according to data compiled by Forecast International. The two manufacturers continue to operate against deep backlogs, with Airbus reporting a commercial backlog of 9,031 aircraft as of 31 March, equivalent to roughly 10.4 years of production at its 2026 delivery target of 870 aircraft.
Airbus delivery mix improves
Of the 60 Airbus deliveries in March, 49 were narrowbodies, comprising 41 A320neo family aircraft and 8 A220s. Widebody handovers improved meaningfully, with 8 A350s and 3 A330neos delivered during the month. The pickup in narrowbody output points to gradual progress on the A320neo programme, although deliveries remain below the manufacturer’s medium term target rate.
Pratt and Whitney engine availability continues to be cited as the primary constraint on Airbus’s ability to push the A320neo line toward its longer term Rate 75 ambition. Analysts will be watching April and May data closely for confirmation that March’s stronger pace can be sustained.
Boeing steady on widebodies, narrowbody dip
Boeing delivered 34 narrowbodies in March, including 33 737 MAX aircraft and one 737NG. Widebody deliveries totalled 12, comprising 7 Dreamliners, 3 777s and 2 767s. The slight monthly dip from February reflected inspections and rework on roughly 25 737 MAX aircraft following the discovery of a wiring defect, which Boeing has since addressed.
“Boeing’s delivery performance was driven by narrowbody activity, while Airbus’s order book swelled on lessor and Chinese carrier commitments.” — Forecast International commentary, March 2026 report
Order book reshaped by lessors and Chinese carriers
The standout figure of the month was Airbus’s 331 gross orders, including a 100 aircraft order from AerCap and a 101 aircraft commitment from China Eastern Airlines. Beyond narrowbodies, Airbus secured 20 A350F freighter orders from Atlas Air Worldwide and 15 A350-900 passenger commitments. Boeing recorded 33 gross orders in March, balanced across 25 orders for the 737 programme and 8 for the 787.
The order surge underlines the industry’s structural under supply of new build slots, particularly for the A321neo and the A350F freighter, both of which now have delivery slots stretching well into the 2030s.
What to watch
The months ahead will be defined by whether Airbus can hold the 60 plus delivery pace and by progress on Boeing’s narrowbody quality improvements. For airlines awaiting capacity, including those across our region, the speed of supply chain recovery and engine availability will determine whether the second half of 2026 brings meaningful relief.
