Commercial aircraft manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing and Comac) delivered 118 aircraft in August 2025, reporting a near one-third increase compared to August 2024. This marks the highest number of aircraft deliveries for the month of August since 2018.
ADS data also finds that 125 commercial aircraft orders were placed during August 2025, which is an 84% increase compared to the same month last year. This now takes the year-to-date aircraft order book to 1,325 aircraft, a near doubling compared to the first eight months of 2024, where 682 aircraft were placed on the order books.
The backlog of Airbus and Boeing aircraft now stands at 16,171 orders, equivalent to over 15 years’ worth of work for the UK’s aerospace supply chain, and up to £257 billion in value to the UK economy at current production rates.
Year-end deliveries on track for record production ramp-up
With aircraft manufacturers focussed on ramping up production, ADS has developed three growth scenarios for how many individual aircraft will be delivered globally by year-end.
Following the month of August, aircraft deliveries are now on track to meet ADS’ ‘high growth scenario’ of 1,340 aircraft deliveries by the end of the year*. This would mark a 20% increase compared to 2024, and the highest number of deliveries reported at year-end since 2018.
August’s aircraft delivery figures show an encouraging sign that industry is beginning to operate at a stable and sustained pace. The challenge now is for industry to maintain this momentum.
While we remain optimistic about the sector’s direction following the industrial strategy, regulatory hurdles and workforce shortages continue to constrain the industry’s ability to grow. The government must now seize this momentum as an opportunity to strengthen the UK’s supply chain and meet these challenges with urgency.
ADS’ full economics brief can be read here.
NOTES:
- ADS is the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, with more than 1,600 member businesses.
- As a note, ADS’ ‘medium growth scenario’ reports 1,240 aircraft delivered by year-end – a 10% year-on-year increase compared to 2024.
- Its ‘modest growth scenario’ reports 1,172 aircraft delivered by year-end – a 4% year-on-year increase compared to 2024.
