Airbus vs. Boeing, eternal rivals in the airline industry

Did you know that the historic Airbus vs Boeing rivalry is one of the world's biggest corporate rivalries? These two aviation giants have been competing to out-market each other for more than 50 years, and while throughout history the world of commercial aircraft piloting has been full of names, today flying has become synonymous with flying on Airbus or Boeing.

Now, in the face of Boeing's crisis since spring 2019, Airbus shines in the industry with a significant increase in aircraft production and delivery versus its main competitor.

We tell you the story of these global aviation giants and how they are facing their current situation.

How was the historical competition between Airbus and Boeing born?

Of these two aircraft manufacturing giants, Boeing is the oldest in the world and enjoyed a monopoly for more than 50 years until its main competitor, Airbus, was created in 1970. The birth of the latter is the result of an agreement signed between the French, German and British governments.

Thus, the competition of Airbus versus Boeing has been characterized by becoming a worldwide duopoly after several mergers with other manufacturers in the United States and Europe that were no longer able to compete with these two aeronautical giants.

It was in the 1990s that the European manufacturer became a major competitor of Boeing, overshadowing it with its A330 and A340 aircraft.

Over time, the rivalry between these two aeronautics giants has reached the courts, initiating legal battles between them and between the governments that protect them to safeguard their respective commercial interests. Disputes that continue to this day.

Airbus and Boeing battle for airspace domination

For aviation companies, the commercial aircraft market is a very important revenue generator.

If you currently look at our global airspace you will notice that it is totally dominated by Boeing and Airbus, which together hold a 99% market share, according to various sources consulted.

But this market is divided for each of these giants, having their space with more influence. If we are talking about Boeing, its main market is North America and Asia Pacific, where its main revenues come from; while in the case of Airbus, Asia Pacific comes first, followed by the European market.

And what are each of these aircraft manufacturers strongest at?

Although both are active in common categories - e.g. commercial aircraft, unmanned, military or space systems - Airbus is also active in the helicopter sector, mainly civil, where it has more competition than Boeing.

However, Boeing wins in military aviation products over Airbus.

If we stick only to commercial aircraft models, those manufactured by each of the two companies are close competitors. The most popular are the Boeing 737 family and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft.

The future of the rivalry between Airbus and Boeing

There is no doubt that the immediate future facing the Airbus and Boeing companies is quite uncertain, especially given the severe crisis facing the latter. Both have a significant set of challenges to overcome.

Boeing continues to work on resolving the 737 MAX shutdown and regaining confidence in the brand, while Airbus is facing the latest legal threats from the U.S. company, which puts it on the ropes for alleged unfair trades.

In short, Airbus vs Boeing, a historical rivalry that extends beyond the manufacture of commercial aircraft, touching on legal, image and prestige issues.

An arduous competitiveness that has made these two companies into two giants of global aircraft manufacturing and two key rivals for the sector. And you, who do you think will win this fight for "domination" of commercial airspace?