Boeing delivered more commercial aircraft in Q1 2026 than Airbus, marking a year-over-year increase and maintaining robust pace into the year’s first quarter. The U.S. planemaker handed over planes at a rate exceeding prior forecasts despite hurdles, solidifying its early lead in the 2026 delivery race.
January saw Boeing deliver 46 jets, doubling Airbus’s 19, driven by 37 Boeing 737 MAX narrowbodies and nine widebodies including five 787s, three 777s, and one 767. This narrowbody dominance underscores Boeing’s reliance on the 737 program to power near-term output.
A quality defect on the 737 line impacted about 25 aircraft due to scratched wiring from a miscalibrated machine, delaying roughly 10 deliveries into Q2. Boeing identified and resolved the issue swiftly, resuming handovers last week with minimal three-day rework per plane.
787 deliveries slowed to about 15 in Q1 from an expected 20, tied to premium-interior certification timing, though production rollouts remained steady. CFO Jay Malave emphasized these as timing shifts, not production disruptions, preserving full-year targets of 90-100 787s and 120 737s in Q1 originally planned.
Boeing projects accelerated 737 and 787 volumes for the rest of 2026, drawing partly from inventory to boost cash flow. This rebound from 2025’s 600 deliveries—up from 348 in 2024—positions Boeing competitively against Airbus’s prior annual edge, enhancing market share and financial recovery.