Commercial aircraft orders and deliveries surged during May 2026, with deliveries seeing a 45% increase compared to May 2025. A total of 142 deliveries of Airbus, Boeing and Comac aircraft were made during the month, marking the highest May aircraft delivery figure on record.
Data from the ADS aerospace association also finds that 406 aircraft orders were placed during the month, which is over 100 more aircraft than the previous year and represents 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.
A total of 1,139 aircraft orders have been placed so far in 2026, which is 35% higher than the previous year, and the highest January to May figure to date.
The current aircraft backlog now stands at an all-time high of 16,909 (Airbus and Boeing), representing approximately 12 years’ worth of work for the UK’s aerospace sector at current production rates.
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.
The full economics briefing can be found here.
ADS is the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, with over 2,000 member businesses.
