France, United States, And China Start 2025 With Aircraft Industry Under Pressure As Airbus, Boeing, And COMAC Miss Early Delivery Benchmarks

Written By: Dixita Baruah

Dixita Baruah

See Full Bio

April 5, 2025 01:33 GMT+5:30

Image generated with Ai

The global aircraft manufacturing landscape is grappling with turbulence in early 2025, as Airbus, Boeing, and COMAC begin the year with lower-than-expected delivery volumes. Despite setting high annual delivery goals, all three manufacturers are navigating a mix of logistical constraints, supply chain delays, and certification bottlenecks.

Airbus Pushes for Recovery Amid Engine Shortages

Toulouse-based Airbus has set a delivery goal of 820 aircraft for the year. However, by the end of the first quarter, it has only managed to hand over 134 aircraft to clients. March deliveries included:

• 18 A320s
• 33 A321s
• 10 A220s
• 2 A330-900s
• 6 A350-900s

With first-quarter deliveries typically accounting for around one-fifth of annual totals, current performance suggests Airbus is on pace to fall short—possibly capping the year at 660 aircraft if production doesn’t ramp up.

The shortfall is tied primarily to limited availability of CFM International’s Leap engines, which power the A320neo family. Internal data indicates:

• 43 completed aircraft are awaiting delivery
• 70 units are built but have not yet taken flight
• Most of these are still waiting for engine installations

Despite these challenges, Airbus production activity showed signs of life in March, with 53 aircraft completing first flights, marking a consistent climb from previous months.

Boeing Faces Backlog Pressures and FAA Oversight

Boeing, headquartered in Seattle, entered 2025 aiming to deliver 610 aircraft. Q1 data reveals a delivery of 130 aircraft so far, broken down as:

• 33 737 MAX
• 4 787 Dreamliners
• 4 777-200LRFs

With historical Q1 trends averaging 24.5% of annual output, Boeing’s current trajectory suggests it may reach only around 530 units by year’s end unless significant strides are made in the coming months.

One of the key areas of focus remains the 737 MAX. Production is inching upward, with 27 first flights in March—an improvement over the monthly average earlier this year. Boeing aims to hit a rate of 38 aircraft per month by mid-2025, per FAA production caps.

Inventory remains a lifeline. Roughly one-quarter of this year’s MAX deliveries have come from stored inventory, with 34 737-8 aircraft still in stock. If the 737-7 variant is certified this year, Boeing could add another 28 aircraft to its delivery pool.

Meanwhile, the 787 Dreamliner faces its own hurdles. Though 25 units are ready, supply issues—especially related to cabin seating—have delayed deliveries, including 13 aircraft intended for Lufthansa.

COMAC’s C919 Ambitions Slowed by Production Realities

Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC is working to establish its C919 jet as a viable alternative to Airbus and Boeing. After delivering 13 C919s in 2024, COMAC aims to more than double that number in 2025, targeting 30 units.

Orders for this year are distributed among China’s top airlines:

• 10 for China Eastern
• 12 for Air China
• 10 for China Southern

However, just one C919 was delivered in the first quarter, highlighting that COMAC, like its Western counterparts, is contending with production and logistical slowdowns. Its Shanghai facility has encountered challenges similar to those reported in Toulouse and Seattle.

Industry Outlook: Can the Big Three Make Up for Lost Time?

As Q2 approaches, the commercial aviation industry is under pressure to reverse its slow start. The next several months will be critical for manufacturers aiming to meet their 2025 targets.

For Airbus, improved engine availability could unlock deliveries stuck in the pipeline. Boeing is focused on meeting regulatory requirements, clearing inventory, and boosting MAX output. COMAC, still in the early phases of scaling its C919 program, is looking to overcome operational teething issues and prove its reliability as a third global player.

While delays and disruptions have cast a shadow on early 2025, the remainder of the year offers room for recovery—if supply chains stabilize and production efficiencies return.