Boeing delivers 161 commercial aircraft in Q3, including 57 in September

Boeing delivered 57 aircraft in September, up from 51 in August and 55 a year earlier, Reuters has reported. The US manufacturer is continuing its efforts to increase production of its best-selling 737 MAX family, as it looks to restore confidence in its manufacturing ability.

As the US manufacturer rebuilds momentum in commercial aircraft deliveries, it has recorded 475 commercial deliveries so far in 2026, with its 737-family leading output.

Boeing’s Q3 deliveries dominated by 737 family

The figures were reported as part of the company’s third-quarter delivery announcement. Boeing confirmed it delivered 161 commercial aircraft in Q3 and 475 commercial deliveries in the first nine months of this year.

The 737 family continues to account for the largest share of year-to-date deliveries.  Between July and the end of September, 124 737s were delivered, while in the first nine months of this year, a total of 367 aircraft from the family were delivered.

Meanwhile, 10 767 aircraft were delivered in Q3 (the year-to-date figure for this type to 26). The manufacturer’s 777 programme recorded five deliveries in the three months and a total of 20 aircraft since the beginning of the year.

Ethiopian Airlines is one of the latest customers to order the 777. On 30 September, Boeing confirmed the African flag carrier had agreed to purchase eight 777-8 Freighters and two 777 Freighters. The order is Ethiopian Airlines’ second for the 777X family. The airline previously purchased eight 777-9 passenger jets, making it Africa’s first 777X customer.

Boeing’s latest figures underpin the central role of the 737 family to Boeing’s commercial aircraft programme, as the company looks to ramp up production and rebuild customer confidence in its manufacturing ability and quality standards.

Boeing’s Defence, Space & Security division delivers 33 aircraft

On its Defence, Space & Security programmes, the manufacturer delivered a total of 33 aircraft in the third quarter. This brought the division’s total to 98 deliveries in the first nine months of the year.

The deliveries for this division in Q3 included seven KC-46 tanker aircraft, three new AH-64 Apache helicopters and 12 remanufactured Apaches. Additional deliveries included two new CH-47 Chinooks, one renewed Chinook, two F-15 models and two F/A-18 models. One MH-139 and three commercial and civil satellites were also delivered.   

How Boeing’s Q3 figures compare to Airbus

The third-quarter figures offer a comprehensive snapshot of Boeing’s progress as it moves into the final quarter of the year.

Boeing’s main competitor Airbus outdelivered the US manufacturer by 35 aircraft in the third quarter. According to the European manufacturer’s figures, it delivered 72 aircraft to 37 customers in September and recorded 17 gross orders. For 2026 deliveries in the first nine months, Airbus figures show it has made 547 deliveries to 84 customers.

However, Boeing led in September orders, recording 165 gross orders compared with just 17 for its European rival.