Commercial aircraft deliveries in May reach record high despite supply chain pressure

The latest update from ADS indicates that commercial aircraft orders and deliveries continued to surge in May 2026, buoyed by strong demand and increasing production rates at the two large commercial OEMs, Boeing and Airbus.

Despite ongoing supply chain challenges, the OEMs are delivering new aircraft at their highest-ever rate. However, despite this, the backlog of new aircraft orders continues to grow, with 12 years’ worth of aircraft now sitting on OEM order books.

New aircraft orders and deliveries up in May 2026

A new report issued by ADS, the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space industries, found that new aircraft deliveries in May this year were up 45% year-on-year over the same month in 2025.

A total of 142 commercial aircraft were delivered during the month, up from 98% the year previously. The total breaks down into 126 single-aisle and 16 twin-aisle aircraft, a year-on-year rise of 59% and a drop of 16%, respectively.

The figures reflect the steady popularity of shorter-range narrowbody jets and highlight the industry’s tendency to use single-aisle aircraft on longer-sector flights.

ADS reported that this was the highest monthly figure for new aircraft deliveries since the organisation began publishing such data.

In terms of new aircraft orders, a total of 406 new commercial planes were ordered during the month of May, over 100 more aircraft than the previous year and representing a 34% year-on-year increase.

The sharp increase was driven in part by the growing demand for single-aisle aircraft, which saw a 160% increase compared to the previous May.

Breaking this figure down, 380 of these aircraft were single-aisle types (146 in May 2025), while the balance (26) were twin-aisle types, down a staggering 83% from the May 2025 total of 157.  

A total of 1,139 aircraft orders have now been placed in 2026, 35% higher than the previous year and the highest January to May figure to date.

Orderbook backlogs reaching all-time highs

The ADS report showed that the current aircraft backlog for new commercial aircraft now stands at an all-time high of 16,909, representing approximately 12 years’ worth of work for the OEMs and the UK aerospace sector at current production rates.

Out of this figure, 13,803 are single-aisle aircraft, while 3,106 are twin-aisle aircraft. Again, this highlights the dominance of single-aisle narrowbody aircraft in the current aircraft market, as the two large manufacturers continue to battle for market dominance.

Speaking about the figures, Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS, commented, “Despite the challenging geopolitical and economic climate, the global aerospace sector has maintained a resilient growth trajectory across both orders and deliveries. Demand for the sector remains strong while the industry works through ongoing supply chain challenges.”

“If the industry is to continue building on this progress, global policy coordination, alongside continued support from governments and the business community, will remain crucial,” Stone added.

The commercial aircraft outlook for 2026 and beyond

The outlook for commercial aircraft orders remains positive, supported by resilient passenger demand, airline fleet renewal, and a multi-year replacement cycle focused on more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Airlines are continuing to prioritise modern narrowbody jets to reduce operating costs and meet increasingly stringent environmental targets. 

However, supply chain bottlenecks, engine shortages, and manufacturing capacity limits are likely to constrain deliveries rather than demand, extending lead times for new aircraft.

While geopolitical uncertainty and macroeconomic risks could delay some purchasing decisions, leasing companies and fast-growing airlines in Asia and the Middle East are expected to remain active buyers.

Forecasts show that overall, the remainder of 2026 should see robust order activity, with production capacity (rather than customer demand) remaining the principal constraint on market growth.

The real test of this will come in July when the industry gathers for the biennial Farnborough International Airshow, traditionally the place where new large aircraft orders are announced.

As seen from the data above, both Airbus and Boeing are retaining historically large order backlogs, providing strong visibility despite production constraints.

Industry data indicates that commercial aircraft orders are continuing to reach new highs (reaching a 13-year high in the first quarter of 2026 alone), highlighting sustained customer confidence.

Featured image: Boeing