Airbus and Boeing have been competing head to head for decades as the world’s largest commercial airplane makers. The European-based Airbus entered the market 56 years after its rival. And today, more than three-quarters of the world’s commercial aircraft is made up of Airbus and Boeing planes.
The Boeing 737 family and Airbus 320 family are the companies best-selling aircraft and have been a crucial segment of competition. Over the last few years, Airbus has pulled ahead of Boeing when it comes to net profits, orders, deliveries and backlog. Experts say its A321neo narrow-body aircraft is propelling the company ahead of Boeing, which has been dealing with crisis after crisis the last several years. CNBC explores how Airbus came to be the biggest commercial plane manufacturer and whether it can stay on top.
CNBC explores how Airbus came to be the biggest commercial plane manufacturer and whether it can stay on top.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:20 Wide-body era
4:13 The workhorse
7:37 The Superjumbo
9:55 Ramping up production
11:15 The hinge factor
15:02 Can Airbus stay on top?
Produced and Edited by: Erin Black
Animations by: Andrew Schmitz
Senior Director of Video: Jeniece Pettitt
Additional Camera: Natalie Rice
Editorial Support: Leslie Josephs
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How Airbus Surpassed Boeing To Become The World’s Top Plane Maker
