Airbus vs Boeing: who really won Dubai Airshow 2025?

The results of the Dubai Airshow 2025 reflect strong commercial aircraft demand, with Airbus and Boeing announcing combined firm orders and MoUs for 369 aircraft. But beneath the headlines, the two OEMs walked away with very different stories.

Airbus dominated in headline volumes and new customer momentum, while Boeing secured more of the high-value, contractually firm business.

Dubai Airshow: Airbus vs Boeing by the numbers

Below, we compare the two OEMs’ performance based on confirmed firm orders and MoUs announced during the show.

Dubai Airshow 2025 orders by customer 

These were the airline announcements at the Dubai Airshow, some of which are not reflected in the final tally as they were previously undisclosed orders or options.

Airbus gets significant commitments, but a softer firm order book

Airbus left Dubai with the largest headline tally of the show, thanks mainly to substantial widebody and narrowbody commitments.

The European manufacturer secured 194 aircraft in all. The OEM also reported 20 options on Air Europa’s A350 MoU, bringing its total show aircraft potential commitment up to 214. Airbus also announced 18 “disclosed orders” for the A350, though these do not count as show gains since they were already in the orderbook.

Airbus widebody strength relies on A350 momentum

The Airbus A350 family continued its strong momentum with orders in the Middle East and Africa. Airbus’ wins included:

• Air Europa committed to 20 (up to 40) A350-900s
• Ethiopian Airlines placed a firm order for 6 A350-900s 
• Etihad Airways disclosed firm orders for 7 A350-1000s and 3 A350Fs
• Emirates disclosed orders for 8 more A350-900s
• Silk Way West expanded its A350F fleet with an order for 2 more jets

Considering only firm orders that were not already on the books, Airbus’ net gains in widebodies from the Dubai Airshow shrink to 14. 

Narrowbody: flydubai shifts the narrative but doesn’t move the needle

The biggest Airbus news in narrowbodies was flydubai’s MoU for 150 A321neos — a dramatic development from a carrier that has historically ordered only Boeing 737s. The deal helped Airbus secure a total of 160 narrowbody aircraft commitments.

However, none of the narrowbody orders Airbus announced during the show were firm. The flydubai commitment certainly signals a deepening competitive challenge for Boeing in the region. Still, by the end of the Dubai Airshow, Airbus walked away with zero net gains in the narrowbody order book. 

Boeing: Firm orders lead as headline volume trails

Boeing’s total headline volume — 175 aircraft — was smaller than Airbus’. But the US manufacturer walked away with the most contractually locked-in business, securing 102 firm orders, over seven times Airbus’s firm orders booked during the show.

The largest single deal of the week came from Emirates, which placed firm orders for 65 Boeing 777-9s, supporting Boeing’s dominance in very-large twin-engine aircraft and reinforcing the airline’s long-term investment in the type.

Gulf Air added 15 Boeing 787s, with options for three additional aircraft, further strengthening Boeing’s widebody orderbook.

Boeing reports narrowbody wins across Africa and the Middle East

Boeing also landed two firm orders for the 737 MAX:

• Air Senegal – 9 737 MAX 8s
• Ethiopian Airlines – 11 737 MAX 8s

Additionally, flydubai signed an MoU for 75 737 MAXs, adding to Boeing’s future narrowbody pipeline and softening the blow from the airline’s decision to add Airbus aircraft to its fleet.

While Boeing’s overall narrowbody volume was lower than Airbus’, the US manufacturer secured 20 firm orders, compared with Airbus’s zero firm narrowbody orders.

Dubai Airshow 2025 was about two different types of ‘winning’

Dubai Airshow 2025 showcased two different definitions of success for the big OEMs. 

Airbus can claim a higher total volume at 194 aircraft (firm and MoU). The MoU announcements promise a healthy future production pipeline. Airbus also won plenty of headlines with flydubai’s game-changing decision to add the A321neo to its fleet. 

Boeing clearly won on contracts, with 102 firm orders. At the end of the show, Boeing walks away with more bankable business.

The largest single deal announced during the show, Emirates’ 777X order, also provided a much-needed vote of confidence in the promising but long-delayed future widebody jet. The 777X’s appearance in Dubai Airshow’s flying display during the first two days of the show was Boeing flexing those foldable wings for the world to see.   

Dubai Airshow 2025: rumours vs reality

Speculation ahead of the show was for more airlines to make announcements of some kind, but several predictions did not come through. By the end of the show, only nine airlines had placed orders or made commitments, and they were not all as expected. 

Although EgyptAir didn’t order any new aircraft as such, it did sign lease comittments for an additional five Airbus A350-900.

The unanticipated orders at Dubai Airshow 2025

While rumoured contracts did not all pan out, there were also some surprise orders at the show for both OEMs.

Overall, Dubai Airshow 2025 orders reflected robust long-term demand for new, fuel-efficient aircraft—not a bad show for either manufacturer. But, in terms of booked orders, Boeing was the clear winner by a mile.

Get all the news from Dubai Airshow with AGN.

Featured Image: Dubai Airshow

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