Airbus A320 Nears the Crown: A Four-Decade Flight to the Top

In a historic shift for global aviation, Airbus is just 20 aircraft away from unseating Boeing’s 737 as the most-delivered commercial jetliner of all time. It’s a moment nearly 40 years in the making.

When Airbus launched the A320 program in 1981, few believed the European consortium could challenge Boeing’s dominance. At that point, Boeing had already delivered over 1,500 737s and defined what narrowbody success looked like. Airbus was the underdog — an ambitious joint venture with limited experience and complex multinational governance.

Yet innovation proved to be Airbus’ co-pilot. The A320 was the first commercial aircraft to introduce digital fly-by-wire controls, which simplified operations and improved safety. Side-stick controls, a higher ground clearance, and flexible engine options also helped differentiate it from the 737. What began as a gamble turned into a winning formula.

Fast forward to today, the A320 family has accumulated over 12,150 deliveries, just shy of Boeing’s lifetime 737 total. The surge in A320 popularity is not sudden. Since the early 2000s, annual deliveries of the A320 have consistently outpaced its American rival. By 2019, total orders had also overtaken the 737 — but deliveries still lagged. That gap is now about to close.

Boeing's recent setbacks, such as regulatory issues, production delays, and loss of public confidence, have only opened up more opportunities for Airbus. In the meantime, Airbus is already gazing forward, considering a next-generation A320 replacement by the end of the decade.

What is notable about this achievement is not necessarily how many planes were built. It is a passing of the torch. Airbus, the former outsider, has achieved global leadership in commercial aviation by incessantly innovating and adapting to the needs of the market.

With the A320 about to take the throne, it also represents the strength of long-term vision, calculated risk-taking, and cross-border cooperation. The aviation business is cyclical in nature, but leadership in it comes from decades of perseverance.