Airbus CEO predicts Boeing may win 2025 order race

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged that Boeing could take the lead in aircraft orders this year, aided by U.S. tariff settlements, although Airbus remains ahead in deliveries and total backlog.

Faury told France Inter that while Airbus has dominated new orders for the past five years, Boeing has posted 908 net orders for 2025 through November, compared with Airbus’ 700, largely driven by strong demand for the 787 long-haul jet and trade-related timing of orders. Analysts noted that some airlines adjusted their purchases to ease tensions with the U.S., particularly in Asia.

Despite potentially losing the order race, Airbus is expected to remain the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer thanks to higher delivery volumes. The company also secured Chinese approval to proceed with the delivery of 120 previously ordered jets, even as large new orders from China remain under negotiation.

Faury confirmed that a major software recall for around 4,000 jets in the A320 family, including the A321, has been completed, ensuring the fleet is fully operational. The CEO emphasized that Airbus continues to focus on smaller jets, while Boeing leads on long-haul aircraft.