Aircraft deliveries hit an 8-year high as global order backlog reaches record levels
Commercial aircraft deliveries reached their highest first-half total in eight years during the first six months of 2026, while airlines continued to place orders at a pace that pushed the industry’s backlog to a new record, according to the latest data from ADS.
The UK aerospace trade association reported that manufacturers delivered 673 commercial aircraft between January and June 2026. That is a 13% increase compared with the same period in 2025 and the strongest first-half performance since 2018. Most of these are Airbus and Boeing deliveries. Chinese planemaker COMAC has delivered eight aircraft so far in 2026.
Planemakers delivered 155 aircraft during June, a 25% increase over June 2025, although monthly orders declined to 192 aircraft, down 40% from a year earlier.
| Category | H1 2026 Orders | YoY Change | H1 2026 Deliveries | YoY Change | Backlog | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Commercial Aircraft | 1,331 | +15% | 673 | +13% | 16,925 | +4% |
| Single-aisle | 1,074 | +59% | 566 | +15% | 13,819 | +3% |
| Widebody | 257 | -47% | 107 | +3% | 3,106 | +12% |
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft deliveries | 673 (highest first-half total since 2018) |
| Gross aircraft orders | 1,331 (+15% year-on-year) |
| Single-aisle share of orders | 81% |
| Global aircraft backlog | 16,925 aircraft (record) |
| Estimated UK value of backlog | £341–393 billion |
| Years of production represented | Approximately 12 years |
| Aircraft cancellations (H1) | 102 aircraft |
| June aircraft deliveries | 155 (+25% vs June 2025) |
| June aircraft orders | 192 (-40% vs June 2025) |
Source: ADS Commercial Aircraft & Engine Data, H1 2026.
Record backlog stretches to almost 17,000 aircraft
Airlines placed 1,331 gross aircraft orders through H1, up 15% year-on-year, supporting global long-term fleet expansion.
The industry’s order backlog climbed to 16,925 aircraft by the end of June, representing a 4% increase over the previous year and marking the highest mid-year backlog ever recorded. It also marks the fourth consecutive monthly increase in the global backlog.
ADS estimates the backlog equates to around 12 years of production at current manufacturing rates.
Single-aisle demand continues to dominate
Much of the market’s momentum came from narrowbody aircraft, which remain the backbone of airline fleet renewal programmes.
Single-aisle aircraft accounted for 1,074 orders, a record for the first half of a year and 59% higher than in H1 2025. These aircraft represented 81% of all commercial aircraft orders, up from 58% during the same period last year.
By contrast, widebody orders fell 47% to 257 aircraft.
In all, there were 102 aircraft cancellations during the first half of 2026, most of which were single-aisle aircraft. Widebody jets accounted for only 17 cancellations.
Gross orders and backlog are for Airbus and Boeing commercial aircraft; COMAC is not included in these figures.
ADS noted that order activity is expected to accelerate during the Farnborough International Airshow, one of the industry’s biggest venues for announcing aircraft purchases.
Deliveries continue a gradual recovery amid robust demand
Airline demand for next-generation aircraft remains strong despite the supply-chain challenges facing manufacturers.
ADS delivery figures reflect continued recovery from pandemic-era disruptions. While aircraft deliveries are still below the record levels achieved before COVID-19, the increase in output will help the industry catch up to a record-setting order backlog.
“As the industry prepares for what is set to be the largest Farnborough International Airshow on record, global aircraft orders and deliveries have continued to gather momentum throughout the first half of the year. With deliveries at their strongest level since 2018, the sector is entering the Airshow from a position of real strength, and we look forward to seeing further commercial activity over the week ahead,” said Aimie Stone, Chief Economist at ADS.
