Boeing's Q1 2024 Widebody Production Hits Low as Airbus Secures Major Delta Order

The first quarter of Boeing’s fiscal 2024 marked a troubling period for the American aircraft manufacturer as its widebody production dropped dramatically. Delivering just 16 widebody aircraft, including 3 Boeing 767s and 13 Boeing 787s, Boeing faced supply chain delays, certification challenges, and fallout from safety incidents that severely impacted its output. This figure stands in stark contrast to Airbus’s robust performance over the same period.

Boeing’s narrowbody deliveries also fell sharply in Q1 2024, totaling 83 aircraft overall – the lowest quarterly output since 2021. Of these, 67 were Boeing 737 MAX models. The decline represents a 47% drop from Q4 2023 and has strained Boeing’s relationships with customers. The issues originate partly from a high-profile Alaska Airlines 737 MAX incident earlier that year, where a door plug blew out shortly after takeoff, leading to investigations highlighting Boeing’s insufficient maintenance oversight and FAA certification lapses at Boeing’s Renton assembly line.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report in July 2025 pointed to systemic quality control failures at Boeing’s 737 MAX production facilities, triggering production delays and safety concerns. These problems exacerbated Boeing’s operational difficulties, affecting airlines like United, All Nippon Airways, and Air India, whose deliveries for Boeing 787 Dreamliners were postponed. Consequently, these carriers had to operate older fleets longer than planned, constraining their capacity.

In contrast, Airbus capitalized on Boeing’s production troubles by enhancing its own manufacturing cadence and securing substantial new orders. In Q1 2024, Airbus delivered 114 aircraft, with 100 narrowbody and 14 widebody deliveries. Airbus also reported firm orders exceeding 330 aircraft, predominantly for its narrowbody A320 family. Notably, Airbus announced plans to deliver 870 aircraft during 2026, projecting a lead of over 200 units above Boeing’s targeted output for the same period.

Among Airbus’s significant sales wins was a large widebody order from Delta Air Lines in January 2026. The US legacy airline committed to acquiring 16 A330-900 and 15 A350-900 aircraft, including ten option exercises and additional options for future deliveries. This order underscores Delta’s shift towards Airbus widebodies for long-haul operations, intending to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian emphasized this partnership as key to the airline’s long-term growth.

Rolls-Royce also benefits from Delta’s order as the A330-900 and A350-900 aircraft use Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 and Trent XWB engines respectively, solidifying Delta as the company’s largest American partner. Airbus North America CEO Robin Hayes highlighted the strategic importance of powering Delta’s global expansion through this deal. The new widebodies will complement Delta’s current Airbus fleet, which already includes hundreds of A220, A319, A320, A321, A330, and A350 aircraft.

Boeing is attempting to counter these challenges by opening a new 737 MAX assembly line in Everett, Washington, to supplement the Renton facility’s production. Known as the North Line, it will be the first site for MAX production outside Renton since 1970. The new line aims to address the backlog of approximately 4,870 unfilled 737 MAX orders. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announced the first MAX 10 rollout from this line scheduled for July 6, 2026, aiming to restore trust and improve production reliability.

This production reset is critical for Boeing as the company continues to contend with the lingering effects of its safety concerns, certification delays, and shrinking market share. While the widebody segment shows Airbus’s concrete gains through customer commitments like Delta’s, Boeing’s recovery will depend on stabilizing quality processes and meeting delivery timelines to retain airline customers.

The stark contrast between Boeing and Airbus highlights an ongoing realignment in the commercial aviation industry. Production efficiency, safety credibility, and customer confidence have emerged as vital pillars for market success. Boeing’s efforts to resolve internal manufacturing issues and its ability to ramp up delivery output in coming quarters will significantly influence its competitive position against Airbus’s growing momentum.