2000 to 2010 – 9/11 Attacks and A380
Number of aircraft delivered between 2000 and 2010
With the launch of the 737NG, Boeing entered the 21st century as the market leader. The American giant delivered 489 aircraft compared to 294 from the European manufacturer. However, 2001 would bring many changes to the world of aviation. The September 11 attacks influenced the market, and Boeing felt it the most. In the years following the attacks, the American company saw a drop in deliveries from 527 in 2001 to 281 in 2003. Airbus also felt the market downturn on the other side of the Atlantic, but not as intensely as its rival. The following years were led by the Airbus family of aircraft, and with the launch of the A380 in 2007, the European manufacturer managed to close the first decade of the 21st century ahead with 510 aircraft delivered in 2010 against 462 aircraft by Boeing. However, even closing the decade behind its rival, the American company delivered more aircraft over those 10 years, with 4,410 (Boeing) aircraft against 4,294(Airbus). The European company shook the American aircraft empire, and the rivalry between them would become even more remarkable, with Airbus and Boeing fighting for the throne and trying to attract the largest number of buyers for their aircraft models.
2011 to 2020 – 737MAX AND COVID
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Number of aircraft delivered between 2011 and 2020
The second decade of the 21st century was marked by significant growth in aircraft deliveries by both companies, but Boeing led the market. The 787 Dreamliner launched in 2011 helped boost deliveries, leading to a 7-year leadership by the American manufacturer. Not even the launch of the A320NEO in 2016 made Airbus regain first place, as its rival 737MAX would be launched the following year. However, at the beginning of 2019, the market would undergo another change: Boeing's "golden goose", its newest model, the 737MAX, lost its flight certification, which caused Boeing to cancel the aircraft's production line. As a result, the American giant saw its deliveries fall from 806 (2018) to 380 (2019), while its rival continued its sharp growth in deliveries. This growth would end the following year with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, flight restrictions, and the cancellation of several orders by airlines due to low demand for flights. Both manufacturers had a troubled end to the decade, but the victory was for Boeing, the American manufacturer, which delivered 6,065 aircraft compared to just 5,287 by its rival.
2021 to 2024 - Investigations, Strikes and the Pos-Covid
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Number of aircraft delivered between 2021 and 2024 (Until November 2024)
In 2021, the aviation industry started healing from the pandemic impact, with increasing passenger numbers and a gradual restoration of flight routes; in 2022, The industry faced challenges due to global supply chain issues, affecting aircraft production and delivery schedules for both manufacturers but still with an increase in delivery numbers. Passenger traffic continued to rise in 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels. 2024 was a typical year for the European manufacturer, but on the other side of the ocean, things didn't go so well; in early 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in the United States following an incident where a door plug panel detached mid-flight on an Alaska Airlines flight, but the same grounding was removed on January 24. Still, the problems didn't end there; approximately 33,000 factory workers later started a seven-week strike. The labor dispute had substantial financial implications for Boeing, with the company estimating a loss of $100 million in revenue per day during the strike, reducing the number of aircraft delivered significantly for the American manufacturer. From January 2021 to November 2024, Airbus delivered 2,077 aircraft, and Boeing delivered 1,666 aircraft; this shows how much the problems within Boeing's leadership and problems faced by the American Giant influenced the number of delivered aircraft.