Airbus has signed fresh aircraft deals with two Chinese airlines, reinforcing its dominance in China even as it trails Boeing in global net orders for 2025.
The European planemaker has secured orders for 55 A320-family narrow-body jets from Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines, according to Bloomberg. Juneyao ordered 25 aircraft, while Spring Airlines committed to 30 planes, with the combined deals valued at approximately $4.1 billion at list prices.
Despite the commercial win, Airbus shares slipped nearly 1% on Monday following the announcement.
Airbus Strengthens Position in China
The new agreements extend Airbus’ lead over U.S. rival Boeing in China, the world’s second-largest aviation market. Boeing has struggled to secure Chinese orders amid heightened U.S.–China geopolitical tensions, which intensified further in 2025 due to shifting U.S. tariff policies under President Donald Trump.
Earlier this month, China sanctioned Boeing’s defense arm and 19 other U.S. defense contractors in response to a $10 billion U.S. weapons package for Taiwan, further complicating Boeing’s commercial prospects in the country.
While Boeing had raised expectations of a revival in China earlier this year—after U.S. lawmakers discussed a potential deal involving up to 500 Boeing aircraft during a September visit—no agreement had materialized as of December.
Backlogs Highlight Diverging Fortunes
Both manufacturers face multi-year delivery backlogs. Aircraft from the Juneyao and Spring Airlines orders are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2032, according to Reuters.
As of September, Airbus’ backlog stood at 8,665 aircraft, CEO Guillaume Faury said during an October earnings call. Boeing’s backlog, by comparison, totals around 5,900 planes, according to CEO Kelly Ortberg.
Airbus has enjoyed a strong year, with its stock up nearly 45% in 2025, driven largely by demand for the A320neo family and ongoing safety and production challenges at Boeing.
Boeing shares, meanwhile, experienced a volatile year—falling 27% between July and November before rebounding 24%—and are still up about 23% year-to-date, outperforming the broader U.S. market.
Boeing Gains Edge in Net Orders
Despite Airbus’ larger backlog and stronger China position, Boeing is expected to finish 2025 with more net orders. Boeing reported 908 net orders between January and November, compared with 700 for Airbus over the same period.
Faury acknowledged the shift, noting that Boeing has benefited from government-backed trade negotiations, where aircraft purchases were linked to tariff relief. Countries including Japan, Cambodia, and Indonesia placed Boeing orders as part of revised trade agreements, while IAG, the parent company of British Airways, ordered 32 Boeing aircraft shortly after the U.S.–U.K. trade deal was announced in May.
Investor Debate Over Boeing’s Future
Boeing’s turnaround remains a point of contention among investors. Tigress Financial recently initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and a $275 price target, implying a 27% upside. More cautious voices, including Deutsche Bank, argue that production delays, high interest rates, and constrained cash flows limit near-term upside, despite expectations of improvement by 2028.
As Airbus consolidates its long-term backlog and Boeing leverages trade diplomacy to rebuild order momentum, the rivalry between the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers remains closely tied to geopolitics, regulation, and global trade dynamics.
