Airbus compounded Boeing's awful week by cementing its status as the world's biggest plane manufacturer for a 5th year running

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and an A220. PASCAL PAVANI/AFP via Getty Images

• Airbus reported 2,319 gross orders for aircraft in 2023 versus Boeing’s 1,456.
• Behind for the fifth year running, it adds to Boeing’s troubles over the last week.
• Airbus’ Christian Scherer said the widebody jet market had recovered from the pandemic sooner than expected.

Airbus reported record order numbers for 2023, beating out its big rival Boeing once again to compound a dreadful week for the American aircraft giant.

The European manufacturer said Thursday it received 2,319 gross orders, or 2,094 net orders, throughout last year.

That smashed the previous record it set with 2013’s orders which totaled 1,619.

By comparison, Boeing reported Tuesday it received 1,456 gross orders last year, per CNN.

Boeing’s numbers are still largely successful as 2023 proved to be one of its best years for orders, but it’s still far behind Airbus.

Coupled with the Federal Aviation Administration announcing a formal investigation into Boeing following last Friday’s Alaska Airlines blowout, the past seven days have been painful for the American manufacturer.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told CNBC Wednesday that the blowout was caused by a “quality escape.”

All 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 jets with a door plug have been grounded as the company revises its initial inspection instructions to operators. Alaska Airlines canceled hundreds of flights as a result.

Airbus also reported delivery numbers of 735 aircraft to 87 customers, which CEO Guillaume Faury said was “on the upper end of our target.”

The majority of those, 571, were narrowbody A320 jets. Although Christian Scherer, Airbus CEO for commercial aircraft, said the widebody market had recovered from the pandemic, “much sooner than expected, and with vigor.”

Scherer told a press conference the Airbus A321XLR, its newest narrowbody jet with a longer range, will first be delivered in the second quarter of this year, per Reuters.

“A number of factors came together to help us achieve our goals, including the increased flexibility and capability of our global industrial system, as well as the strong demand from airlines to refresh their fleets with our most modern and fuel-efficient aircraft,” Faury said.

“This is a remarkable achievement,” he added. “My thanks goes to our customers, supplier partners and all the Airbus teams who made it happen.”