Gitnux/Report 2026

Aviation Manufacturing Industry Statistics

The global aircraft manufacturing market is estimated at $313.2 billion in 2026, explore the figures behind growth, companies and trends.
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Aviation Manufacturing Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The aviation manufacturing industry at a glance

The global aircraft manufacturing market is estimated at $313.2 billion in 2026, with demand supported by fleet renewal and defense spending but constrained by production capacity and supply-chain bottlenecks.

$313.2B[47]
2026 market estimate
5.5%[47]
2026–2034 forecast CAGR
793[17]
Airbus deliveries in 2025
41.2%[47]
North America share in 2025
Market size
The global aircraft manufacturing market was valued at $296.4 billion in 2025 and is estimated to reach $313.2 billion in 2026. The same forecast places the market at $482.3 billion by 2034.[47]
Forecast & CAGR
The market is forecast to grow at a 5.5% CAGR from 2026 to 2034. Within the market, avionics and flight-control systems are projected to grow at a 6.7% CAGR over the forecast period.[47]
Market share & regions
North America held the largest regional share at 41.2% in 2025, representing a market value of $122.12 billion. Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach $76.4 billion in 2026 and record a 6.5% CAGR through 2034.[47]
Segmentation
The market is segmented by aircraft type into commercial, military, and business and general aviation aircraft. It is also divided by components such as airframes and aerostructures, engines and propulsion systems, avionics and flight-control systems, and landing-gear systems; commercial aircraft represented the leading aircraft-type segment in the cited forecast.[47]
Key players & concentration
Airbus and Boeing remain the leading large commercial-aircraft manufacturers, while Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are major defense-aircraft producers. Airbus ended 2025 with a record commercial-aircraft backlog of 8,754 aircraft, while Boeing reported 600 commercial deliveries and $89.5 billion in 2025 revenue.[17][19]
Pricing
Pricing pressure is being driven by constrained aircraft and engine availability: IATA estimated that aerospace supply-chain bottlenecks cost airlines more than $11 billion in 2025. The disruption reflects higher maintenance costs, delayed fuel savings, excess engine-leasing costs, and spare-parts inventory requirements rather than a simple change in aircraft list prices.[48]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Demand is supported by passenger-fleet modernization, defense procurement, and a record commercial-aircraft backlog exceeding 17,000 aircraft, according to IATA. Production remains constrained by skilled-labor shortages, engine and component bottlenecks, and fragile supplier networks; IATA estimated delivery shortfalls of at least 5,300 aircraft.[48]
Consumer behavior & competition
Airlines and lessors are prioritizing fuel-efficient narrow-body aircraft for high-frequency short- and medium-haul routes, while wide-body demand is recovering more selectively. Competition is concentrated between Airbus and Boeing in large commercial jets, with Airbus delivering 793 aircraft in 2025 and Boeing delivering 600.[47][17][19]
M&A
Vertical integration was a major M&A theme: Boeing completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems in December 2025 for approximately $4.7 billion. In September 2026, GE Aerospace announced an agreement to acquire Consolidated Precision Products for $11.75 billion to expand castings capacity for commercial engines, aftermarket, and defense.[49][50]
Regulation
In the United States, aircraft manufacturers must obtain FAA production approval and demonstrate compliant quality systems, supplier oversight, and repeatable manufacturing processes under 14 CFR Part 21. In July 2026, the FAA restored Boeing’s ability to issue airworthiness certificates for all 737 MAX and 787 aircraft after an eight-month production-quality review.[51][35]
Latest news
Airbus reported 793 commercial-aircraft deliveries in 2025, up 4% year over year, and a year-end backlog of 8,754 aircraft. Current industry reporting continues to identify engine shortages, skilled-labor gaps, and supplier constraints as the principal limits on faster production growth in 2026.[17][48]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Aviation Manufacturing Industry

The leading companies in the aviation manufacturing industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 11, 2026 · Next review December 11, 2026

Verdict

GE Aerospace stands out for aircraft-engine and propulsion systems because it reported an 18% revenue growth and a 21.8% operating margin in 2025, while The Boeing Company leads in commercial aircraft and defense since it reported a 34.4% revenue growth and a 2.5% operating margin in 2025.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in aircraft engines

    GE Aerospace

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.2 · Aircraft engines

    Why we picked it: Its commercial and military engine and propulsion systems show financial scale with an 18% revenue growth and a 21.8% operating margin.

    See in ranking ↓Visit geaerospace.com ↗

  2. Leader in commercial aircraft

    The Boeing Company

    US

    Ranked #2 · 9.1 · Commercial aircraft

    Why we picked it: Its commercial aircraft, defense and space programs are reflected in a 34.4% revenue growth alongside a 2.5% operating margin.

    See in ranking ↓Visit boeing.com ↗

  3. Leader in avionics and defense systems

    RTX

    US

    Ranked #3 · 8.9 · Avionics and defense systems

    Why we picked it: Its aerospace engine, avionics, and flight-control offerings align with a 9.7% revenue growth and a 10.5% operating margin.

    See in ranking ↓Visit rtx.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the aviation manufacturing industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

GE Aerospace

Aircraft engines · US

9.2
2

The Boeing Company

Commercial aircraft · US

9.1
3

RTX

Avionics and defense systems · US

8.9
4

Rolls-Royce Holdings

Aircraft engines · GB

8.9
5

Saab

Military aircraft and defense · SE

8.8
6

Airbus

Commercial aircraft, helicopters, defense and space · NL

8.7
7

Safran

Aircraft engines, equipment and interiors · FR

8.7
8

Lockheed Martin

Military aircraft, missiles, space and defense systems · US

8.6
9

Embraer

Regional, executive and military aircraft · BR

8.3
10

Textron

Business aircraft, general aviation and military aircraft · US

7.9

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 11, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 11). Top 10 companies in the aviation manufacturing industry. In Aviation Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aviation-manufacturing-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest aviation manufacturing companies

The Boeing Company leads with $89.5B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

The Boeing Company$89.5B
RTX$88.6B
Airbus$79.3B
Lockheed Martin$75.0B
GE Aerospace$45.9B
Safran$33.7B
source-verifiedinvestors.boeing.com · rtx.com · airbus.com · lockheedmartin.com · geaerospace.com · safran-group.com2025

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI and automation move from pilots to production roles, with 15.48% using AI for certification in 2025 and 65% investing in automation for product development and prototyping.

AI in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 82% of aerospace and defense manufacturers planned to invest more than $500 million in AI in 2027, according to a survey of 150 manufacturing executives.[1]
  • 15.48% of aerospace survey respondents used AI for certification in 2025, globally.[2]
  • 14.19% of aerospace survey respondents used AI for manufacturing in 2025, while 32.26% used it for design, globally.[2]

Automation in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 65% of surveyed aerospace and defense companies invested in automation for product development and prototyping in 2025.[3]
  • 1.88% of aerospace survey respondents reported that all their manufacturing processes were automated in 2025, globally.[2]
  • 50% of surveyed aerospace and defense companies invested in automation for research and development in 2025.[3]
  • 60% of surveyed aerospace and defense companies invested in automation for full-rate production in 2025.[3]
  • 50% of aerospace survey respondents used robotic manufacturing in 2025, globally.[2]

Digital Transformation in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 60–70% of European aerospace and defense executives expect digital transformation to have a high or very high impact by 2028, while only 20–30% report advanced digital maturity today.[4]
  • 83% of global aerospace and defense organizations agree that digital continuity is a key enabler of strategic business transformation, according to a 2025 survey.[5]
  • 82% of global aerospace and defense organizations say digital-continuity investments help maintain a competitive edge, according to a 2025 survey.[5]
  • 30% of global aerospace and defense organizations had already reduced time to market through digital continuity, with an average 13% reduction, in 2025.[5]
  • 22% of global aerospace and defense companies reported having clean, structured data in a central repository ready for analysis in McKinsey’s digital-maturity study.[6]

Technology Adoption in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 30% of U.S. defense companies reported incorporating no AI into their defense products or services in the 2026 survey.[7]
  • 61% of aerospace and defense manufacturers reported adopting AI automation, the highest share among sectors surveyed in 2024.[8]
  • 41% of aerospace and defense manufacturers reported adopting predictive AI in 2024.[8]
  • 31% of aerospace and defense manufacturers reported adopting generative AI in 2024.[8]
  • 27% of aerospace and defense manufacturers reported adopting AI-powered industrial IoT in 2024.[8]

Cloud Computing in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 38% of aerospace and defense companies had mature cloud practices and tools in place in Accenture’s survey.[9]
  • 20% of European defense-industry executives used cloud computing extensively across more than half of processes and activities in 2025.[5]
  • 60% of aerospace and defense companies expected better security from cloud adoption in Accenture’s survey.[9]
  • 52% of European defense-industry executives ranked cloud computing among their top three technologies for augmenting production ramp-up in 2025.[5]
  • 44% of aerospace and defense companies had completed regulatory-compliance planning for cloud adoption, while 52% remained in the planning stage.[9]

Big Data in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 28% of aerospace and defense companies reported having a data-use vision or strategy aligned with business objectives in McKinsey’s study.[6]
  • 29% of European defense-industry executives used data and analytics extensively across more than half of processes and activities in 2025.[5]
  • 29% of aerospace and defense leaders said their enterprise data was standardized, governed and accessible in the 2026 digital-thread study.[10]
  • 15% of aerospace and defense companies used digital and analytics for procurement at scale in McKinsey’s study.[11]
  • 62% of European defense-industry executives ranked data and analytics among their top three technologies for augmenting production ramp-up in 2025.[5]

IoT in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 78% of industrial-organization respondents said their IoT progress increased over the previous 12 months in 2025.[12]
  • 17% of European defense-industry executives ranked IoT or industrial IoT among their top three technologies for augmenting production ramp-up in 2025.[5]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data readiness remains uneven: 29% of leaders said enterprise data was standardized, governed and accessible in 2026, while 71% lacked that level.

Data Quality in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 29% of aerospace and defense leaders said their enterprise data was standardized, governed and accessible in 2026, indicating that 71% lacked this level of data readiness.[13]
  • 68% of aerospace respondents rated data and technology adoption as a priority in 2025, compared with 61% across the overall manufacturing sample.[14]
  • 61% of manufacturing leaders globally said poor data quality limits their ability to adopt and optimize emerging technologies in 2025; aerospace respondents were included in the sector analysis.[14]
  • 32% of manufacturing leaders globally identified data-quality issues as a barrier to digital-twin adoption in 2025; aerospace respondents were included in the sector analysis.[14]

Data Governance in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 38% of defense contractors pursuing CMMC 2.0 Level 2 had comprehensive governance control and tracking systems in 2025, while 62% lacked them.[15]
  • 55% of security and defense firms used advanced security capabilities, including governance tracking and control, for internal sensitive-content communications in 2024.[15]
  • 42% of defense-organization respondents identified data governance and policies for sharing with external partners as a barrier to AI implementation in 2021.[16]
  • 48% of security and defense firms said they tagged and classified more than three-quarters of their unstructured data in 2024.[15]

KPIs in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Airbus’ 2025 consolidated order intake was €123.261 billion, up from €103.509 billion in 2024.[17]
  • Airbus reported 165,294 employees at 31 December 2025, up from 156,921 one year earlier.[17]
  • Rolls-Royce delivered 483 Civil Aerospace engines in 2025, comprising 259 large engines and 224 business-aviation or regional engines.[18]
  • Boeing delivered 600 commercial airplanes in 2025, its highest annual commercial-delivery total since 2018.[19]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Backlogs stay structurally elevated, with Airbus at a record 8,754 commercial aircraft in year-end order backlog in 2025.

Growth in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 165,294 people were employed by Airbus in 2025, up 5% from 156,921 in 2024.[17]
  • $6 billion was invested by Boeing in research and development and capital expenditures in 2024.[20]
  • 8,754 commercial aircraft were in Airbus’s year-end order backlog in 2025, a record high.[17]
  • Airbus’s commercial-aircraft backlog increased from 8,658 aircraft at the end of 2024 to 8,754 at the end of 2025.[17]

Differentiation in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 16.2% of GE Aerospace’s global production employees were women in 2023, a company-specific workforce-composition measure.[21]
  • 23.8% of GE Aerospace’s global professional employees were women in 2023.[21]
  • 57% of U.S. aerospace and defense jobs were in commercial aerospace in 2023, differentiating the sector’s employment base from defense-focused activities.[3]
  • 43% of U.S. aerospace and defense jobs were in defense in 2023, according to the AIA–McKinsey workforce study.[3]

Mergers and acquisitions in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 35 aerospace M&A transactions were recorded in the United States and Canada in the second quarter of 2025.[22]
  • $25 billion was the 2024 deal value for aerospace and defense manufacturing and infrastructure transactions, down from $42 billion in 2023.[23]
  • $3.6 billion was the value of Apollo Global Management’s 2023–2024 acquisition of Barnes Group for aerospace component manufacturing and precision engineering.[23]
  • $8.3 billion was the enterprise value of Boeing’s 2024 acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.[23]

Strategic partnerships in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • More than 600,000 U.S. employees and an additional 200,000 global employees were represented by organizations participating in the 2025 AIA–McKinsey workforce research.[3]
  • 1,000 new jobs were associated with Airbus’s second A320 Family assembly line opened in Alabama in October 2025.[17]
  • Hundreds of suppliers from across the United States participated in building Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus in 2024.[20]
  • More than 2,000 suppliers across 40 or more U.S. states supported Airbus’s U.S. operations in 2025.[17]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce churn stays measurable in aerospace: average turnover was 14.5% among surveyed firms in 2024, after 14.4% in 2023.

Hiring in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 54% of surveyed aerospace and defense companies said total rewards or perks influenced candidates who chose competing employers in 2025.[3]
  • 79% of surveyed aerospace and defense companies said salary and compensation influenced candidates who chose competing employers in 2025.[3]
  • 18% of surveyed aerospace and defense companies said upskilling opportunities influenced candidates who chose competing employers in 2025.[3]
  • 2.23 million people were employed in the U.S. aerospace and defense industry in 2024, up 2.9% from 2023.[3]

Employee retention in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 14.4% was the average turnover rate among surveyed aerospace and defense companies in 2023.[3]
  • 17.0% was the average turnover rate among surveyed aerospace and defense companies in 2022.[3]
  • 15.6% was the average turnover rate among surveyed aerospace and defense companies in 2021.[3]
  • 14.5% was the average turnover rate among surveyed aerospace and defense companies in 2024.[3]

Remote Work in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees, 11.25% of recorded work hours were routine telework in calendar year 2024.[24]
  • Across U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees, 6% of recorded work hours were situational telework in calendar year 2024.[24]
  • Across U.S. Department of Defense civilian positions, approximately 65% to 68% were eligible for telework or remote work during the period reviewed through February 2025.[24]
  • Across U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees, 1.43% of recorded work hours were remote in calendar year 2024.[24]

Hybrid Work in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. remote-capable employees, 61% preferred hybrid work in November 2025.[25]
  • Across U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees, 81.32% of recorded work hours were in-person in calendar year 2024, indicating limited hybrid-work utilization overall.[24]
  • Among U.S. remote-capable employees, 33% preferred exclusively remote work in November 2025.[25]
  • Across U.S. workers, 39% worked from home at least some of the time during the week before the Federal Reserve’s 2025 survey.[26]

Employee Engagement in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across 25 aerospace and defense organizations, 44% reported better employee engagement scores in 2024 than during the prior year.[3]
  • Across 25 aerospace and defense organizations, 8% reported worse employee engagement scores in 2024 than during the prior year.[3]
  • Among NASA civil servants, the 2024 Employee Engagement Index was 84.4% positive across the U.S. space agency workforce.[27]
  • Across 25 aerospace and defense organizations, 32% reported no change in employee engagement scores in 2024.[3]
  • Across 25 aerospace and defense organizations, 16% did not measure employee engagement in 2024.[3]

Change Management in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across aerospace companies surveyed globally, 43% missed their user-acceptance or change-management transformation target in 2023.[28]
  • Across aviation and aerospace companies, more than 90% failed to achieve all transformation goals in the 2025 Change Management Compass study.[29]
  • Across aerospace companies surveyed in Germany, 73% said employees must be open to change and support it in 2019.[30]
  • Across aerospace companies surveyed in Germany, 93% said executives must be open to change and act as change role models in 2019.[30]
  • Across aerospace companies surveyed globally, 57% cited demanding or overly ambitious timescales as a transformation challenge in 2023.[28]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Orders and deliveries remain the key demand read-through, with Airbus net commercial-aircraft orders of 889 in 2025 and Boeing delivering 600 commercial airplanes in 2025.

Customer retention in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 8,754 commercial aircraft were in Airbus’s order book at December 31, 2025, compared with 8,658 at the end of 2024.[17]
  • More than 6,100 commercial airplanes were in Boeing’s backlog at the end of 2025, indicating committed future customer demand.[19]

Customer acquisition in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 536 helicopter orders were recorded by Airbus Helicopters in 2025, up 19% from 450 in 2024.[17]
  • 1,173 net commercial-aircraft orders were won by Boeing in 2025.[19]
  • 889 net commercial-aircraft orders were recorded by Airbus in 2025.[17]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Trade-audience reach highlights ongoing demand for technical reporting, with Aerospace Manufacturing reporting 40,014 monthly website users in 2026.

Marketing in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 1,000 gross commercial-aircraft orders were recorded by Airbus from 57 customers globally in 2025.[17]
  • €16.7 billion was Airbus Defence and Space’s order intake in 2024, with a book-to-bill ratio of about 1.4.[17]
  • 8,754 commercial aircraft were in Airbus’ year-end order backlog in 2025, indicating long-term demand for its product portfolio.[17]
  • €103.5 billion was Airbus’ consolidated net order intake in 2024, reflecting commercial, helicopter, and defence customer demand worldwide.[17]

Digital marketing in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 19,691 digital subscribers per issue were reported by Aerospace Manufacturing in 2026, compared with 4,000 print subscribers.[31]
  • 40,014 monthly website users were reported for Aerospace Manufacturing’s digital audience in 2026.[31]
  • 13,570 recipients were reached by Aerospace Manufacturing’s editor’s e-newsletter per issue in 2026.[31]
  • 7,948 targeted e-blast recipients were reported by Aerospace Manufacturing in 2026.[31]

Branding in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 150,000-plus employees worked for Boeing in the United States in 2025, representing 85% of its global workforce.[20]
  • 1.4 million U.S. jobs were supported directly and indirectly by Boeing’s commercial, defence, space, and services businesses in 2025.[20]
  • 91 customers received Airbus commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025, demonstrating the global reach of the manufacturer’s product brand.[17]
  • 57 customers placed gross commercial-aircraft orders with Airbus in 2025.[17]

Social media in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 623,000-plus LinkedIn followers were reported for Aviation Week’s aerospace and defence media channels in July 2023.[32]
  • 7,684 X followers were reported for Aerospace Manufacturing in its 2026 media profile.[31]
  • 1,130 YouTube followers were reported for Aerospace Manufacturing in its 2026 media profile.[31]
  • 114,022 LinkedIn followers were reported for Aerospace Manufacturing in its 2026 media profile.[31]

Influencer Marketing in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 58% of B2B marketing leaders across six countries cited authenticity and credibility as criteria for selecting creators in 2025.[33]
  • 49% of B2B marketing leaders across six countries cited industry relevance as a criterion for selecting creators in 2025.[33]
  • 28% of B2B marketing leaders across six countries ranked thought leaders or industry analysts as the most effective influencer type in 2025.[33]
  • 55% of B2B marketing leaders across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, India and Australia were using influencers in 2025.[33]
  • 29% of B2B marketing leaders across six countries planned to adopt influencer marketing within the following year in 2025.[33]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Production is capped by availability and process quality, with FAA review findings at Boeing’s Renton 737 plant showing 33 of 89 production-process areas deficient in 2024.

Process optimization in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • More than 470 pieces per week were produced by a GE Aerospace supplier after a kaizen event, up from 47 pieces per week.[21]
  • 10 times higher output was achieved in the supplier process after GE Aerospace applied value-stream mapping and kaizen methods in 2025.[21]
  • 96% on-time delivery was reported for GE Aerospace’s TCF line in 2025.[21]
  • 40 GE Aerospace and supplier employees participated in the kaizen event that improved honeycomb-assembly capacity in 2025.[21]

Operational efficiency in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 30% year-on-year growth in defence engine deliveries was reported by GE Aerospace in 2025.[21]
  • 26% year-on-year growth in total engine deliveries was reported by GE Aerospace in 2025.[21]
  • 793 commercial aircraft were delivered by Airbus in 2025, 4% more than in 2024.[17]
  • 28% year-on-year growth in LEAP engine deliveries was reported by GE Aerospace in 2025.[21]

Quality management in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 607 Airbus A320-family aircraft were delivered in 2025 after quality-focused production measures were implemented.[17]
  • 766 commercial aircraft were delivered by Airbus in 2024 while the company continued quality and industrial-process improvement activities.[17]
  • 33 of 89 production-process areas reviewed by the FAA at Boeing’s Renton plant were reportedly found deficient in 2024.[34]
  • 25% year-on-year growth in GE Aerospace Commercial Engines and Services deliveries was reported in 2025 alongside strengthened quality and sourcing controls.[21]

Supply chain in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Seven consecutive quarters of sequential improvement in supplier material availability were reported by GE Aerospace in 2025.[21]
  • 56.2% of total flow time in the U.S. aircraft-manufacturing supply chain was spent in inventory or transportation in the cited industry analysis.[35]
  • Around 4,000 employees joined Airbus through the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems commercial-aircraft activities in 2025, strengthening industrial capacity and supply-chain control.[17]
  • 40% year-on-year growth in material input from GE Aerospace’s priority suppliers was reported in 2025.[21]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the aerospace and defense sector (sector benchmark)

  • 21.35% of aerospace survey respondents reported manufacturing less than 25% of components in-house, indicating highly outsourced production, in 2023.[2]
  • 53% of aerospace and defense executives expected to reshore or nearshore their suppliers, on average, within the following three years, in 2022.[36]
  • Nearly 60% of US aerospace and defense companies were considering localization strategies, while 15% had developed or navigated reshoring or onshoring strategies, in 2025.[3]
  • 23.35% of aerospace survey respondents reported manufacturing 51–75% of components in-house, in 2023.[2]
  • 46% of aerospace companies reported that most supply-chain expenditures were concentrated within their own region, including neighboring countries, in 2024.[37]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing pressure is tied to constrained availability, with IATA estimating aerospace supply-chain bottlenecks costing airlines more than $11 billion in 2025.

Pricing strategy in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 10% to 24% was the range of TransDigm’s net profit margin from 2016 through 2020, according to the Inspector General’s report.[38]
  • 15.9% was TransDigm’s average net profit margin from 2016 through 2020, according to company officials interviewed by the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General.[38]
  • €629 billion was Airbus’ commercial-aircraft order backlog at the end of 2024, with price adjustments included among backlog changes.[17]

Cost reduction in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • $1.1 billion in pre-tax charges affected Boeing’s 777X and 767 programs in the fourth quarter of 2024.[19]
  • €1.98 billion was Safran’s total research and development expenditure in 2024, including customer-funded R&D.[39]
  • €1.043 billion was Safran’s capital expenditure in 2024, supporting industrial capacity and manufacturing performance.[39]
  • Nearly $5 billion was invested by Boeing in research, development, and factory investment in 2023 to improve products and operations.[20]

Profitability in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • $9.1 billion was GE Aerospace’s adjusted operating profit in 2025, up 25% year on year.[21]
  • 15.1% was Safran’s recurring operating margin in 2024.[39]
  • €7.1 billion was Airbus’ adjusted EBIT in 2025, according to its annual press conference disclosure.[17]
  • 13.3% was the average EBITDA margin for the aerospace and defence industry in 2024, according to McKinsey’s analysis of S&P Global Market Intelligence data.[6]
  • €4.119 billion was Safran’s recurring operating income in 2024.[39]

Financial planning in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • $7.7 billion was GE Aerospace’s free cash flow in 2025, up 24% year on year.[21]
  • $521 billion was Boeing’s total company backlog at the end of 2024, including more than 5,500 commercial airplanes.[19]
  • Approximately 9% of Airbus’ commercial-aircraft backlog in units was expected to convert into revenue during 2025 at the end of 2024.[17]
  • €3.189 billion was Safran’s free cash flow in 2024.[39]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Services expand with fleet age and engine utilization, including Rolls-Royce recording 20.0 million flying hours under long-term service agreements in 2025.

Product development in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 793 commercial aircraft were delivered by Airbus in 2025, including 93 A220s, 607 A320 Family aircraft, 36 A330s and 57 A350s.[17]
  • €3.509 billion was invested in research and development by Airbus in 2025, including €3.153 billion in R&D expenses and €356 million in capitalised development costs.[17]
  • 1,000 commercial aircraft were grossly ordered from Airbus in 2025, resulting in 889 net orders after cancellations.[17]
  • More than 5,000 commercial airplanes were in Boeing’s customer backlog in 2025, representing more than half a trillion dollars of contracted demand.[20]

Product lifecycle in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • The cumulative market for aircraft dismantling and certified used serviceable materials is forecast at US$60 billion over 20 years.[17]
  • More than 18,400 commercial aircraft are forecast to retire and enter recycling processes by 2045.[17]
  • Airbus’ A321XLR completed its first full year of service in 2025 after its first delivery in late 2024.[17]
  • Commercial aircraft typically spend more than 30 years in operational service, according to Airbus’ aircraft lifecycle information.[17]

After-sales in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 1,440 Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace engines underwent shop visits in 2025, including 847 major shop visits.[18]
  • The global commercial aviation services market is forecast to reach US$422 billion by 2045, growing from US$209 billion in 2026.[17]
  • Rolls-Royce recorded 20.0 million large-engine and business-aviation/regional engine flying hours under long-term service agreements in 2025.[18]
  • Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace services revenue increased 21% to £7.2 billion in 2025.[18]

Value proposition in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Airbus commercial aircraft revenue was €52.577 billion in 2025, with services accounting for 11% of external revenues and platforms for 89%.[17]
  • Airbus’ commercial aircraft order backlog reached 8,754 aircraft at the end of 2025, compared with 8,658 at the end of 2024.[17]
  • More than 70% of Boeing’s total backlog was represented by customers outside the United States in the company’s global-presence disclosure.[20]
  • Boeing’s total company backlog reached a record US$682 billion at the end of 2025, including more than 6,100 commercial airplanes.[19]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Emission reporting and compliance controls remain operational constraints, including Airbus having 90% of employees under ISO 14001 environmental-management coverage in 2024.

Sustainability in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 90% of Airbus employees worked under ISO 14001 environmental-management coverage in 2024.[17]
  • Airbus committed to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 industrial emissions by 63% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline.[17]
  • GE Aerospace reported 544,922 metric tons of market-based Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2024.[21]
  • Rolls-Royce reported 42,600 employees across 47 countries in its 2025 sustainability information.[18]

ESG in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Airbus assigned 10% of individual bonus eligibility to ethics and compliance performance for employees entitled to an individual bonus in 2024.[40]
  • Airbus had 12 board directors in 2024, of whom 11 were independent and five were women.[40]
  • Airbus received 1,730 alerts or allegations in 2024, including 675 compliance-related and 1,055 human-resources-related cases.[40]

Ethics in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 100% of Rolls-Royce managers were certified to the company’s code of conduct in 2025.[18]
  • Airbus reported 675 compliance-related alerts or allegations in 2024, covering areas such as bribery, fraud, competition, conflicts of interest and data protection.[40]
  • 96% of Rolls-Royce employees completed annual mandatory ethics and compliance learning in 2025.[18]
  • Rolls-Royce recorded 569 speak-up cases in 2025.[18]

CSR in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Boeing employed approximately 182,000 people across the United States and more than 65 other countries in its global-presence disclosure.[20]
  • Airbus supported more than 275,000 American jobs through annual spending exceeding US$15 billion with more than 2,000 suppliers across over 40 U.S. states.[17]
  • Airbus’ second A320 Family assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, created 1,000 new Gulf Coast jobs in 2025.[17]
  • Airbus employed more than 7,500 people at over 40 U.S. facilities in manufacturing, engineering, training, parts and services, and corporate functions.[17]

Circular economy in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • More than 18,400 aircraft are expected to retire and enter recycling processes by 2045, according to Airbus’ 2026–2045 services forecast.[17]
  • Aircraft dismantling and certified used serviceable materials are forecast to create a cumulative US$60 billion market over 20 years.[17]
  • Airbus aircraft have service lives of upwards of 20 years, supporting long-term reuse and resource-efficiency strategies.[17]

Carbon footprint in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • GE Aerospace’s 2024 market-based Scope 2 emissions were 261,563 metric tons of CO2e.[21]
  • GE Aerospace reported 544,922 metric tons of market-based Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2024, down from 951,490 metric tons in its 2019 base year.[21]
  • Rolls-Royce reported that the Trent XWB-84 EP entered service with fuel consumption improved by more than 1%.[18]
  • GE Aerospace’s 2024 market-based Scope 1 emissions were 283,359 metric tons of CO2e.[21]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Global supply and customer spread shapes execution scope, including Boeing serving 150 countries with its commercial, defense and space businesses in 2025.

Globalization in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Approximately 182,000 people were employed by Boeing across the United States and more than 65 countries in 2025.[20]
  • Airbus worked with more than 2,000 suppliers across more than 40 U.S. states in 2025.[17]
  • Airbus supported more than 275,000 American jobs through annual spending of over $15 billion in 2025, United States.[17]
  • More than 70% of Boeing’s total order backlog represented customers outside the United States in 2025.[20]

Cultural adaptation in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 4.4% of Washington State’s aerospace workforce identified as Black or African American in 2022, compared with 3.0% in 2003.[45]
  • 19.9% of Washington State’s aerospace workforce identified as Asian in 2022, up from 7.7% in 2003.[45]
  • 7.3% of Washington State’s aerospace workforce identified as Hispanic or Latino in 2022, compared with 2.6% in 2003.[45]
  • 64.4% of Washington State’s aerospace workforce identified as White in 2022, down from 84.2% in 2003.[45]

Supplier management in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • Boeing Distribution Services was supported by more than 3,000 suppliers in 2024.[46]
  • More than 275,000 U.S. jobs were supported by Airbus’s annual spending of over $15 billion and supplier network in 2025.[17]
  • Airbus worked with more than 2,000 suppliers across over 40 U.S. states in 2025.[17]
  • $35 billion was Boeing’s annual spending with U.S. suppliers, according to the company’s latest U.S. economic-impact figures.[20]

Stakeholder management in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • $84 billion was Boeing’s reported U.S. economic impact across its activities in the company’s latest figures.[20]
  • 1.4 million U.S. jobs were supported directly and indirectly by Boeing across all 50 states in the company’s latest figures.[20]
  • $97 billion was Boeing’s stated annual contribution to the U.S. economy in its latest U.S. impact figures.[20]
  • 150 countries contained Boeing airline and U.S.-allied government customers in 2025, indicating a broad international stakeholder base.[20]

Distribution channels in the aviation manufacturing industry

  • 2,300 or more locations in 150 countries were served by Boeing Distribution Services in 2024.[46]
  • 17,300 or more product lines were shipped per day by Boeing Distribution Services in 2024.[46]
  • 150 countries were covered by Boeing Distribution Services’ global delivery network in 2024.[46]
  • More than $1.7 billion of inventory was held by Boeing Distribution Services in 2024 to support production and aftermarket customers.[46]

Key questions about the aviation manufacturing industry

What is the 2026 market size for aircraft manufacturing?
The global aircraft manufacturing market is estimated at $313.2 billion in 2026.
How fast is the aircraft manufacturing market forecast to grow through 2034?
The market is forecast to grow at a 5.5% CAGR from 2026 to 2034, reaching $482.3 billion by 2034.
Which companies lead the aviation manufacturing industry?
GE Aerospace stands out for aircraft-engine and propulsion systems because it reported an 18% revenue growth and a 21.8% operating margin in 2025, while The Boeing Company leads in commercial aircraft and defense since it reported a 34.4% revenue growth and a 2.5% operating margin in 2025.
Which technology shifts show measurable adoption inside aerospace manufacturing?
In 2025, 15.48% of aerospace and defense manufacturers planned AI for certification use, while 65% invested in automation for product development and prototyping. In 2026 planning, 22% reported clean, structured data in a central repository ready for analysis.
How concentrated is competition in aircraft manufacturing products?
Competition for large commercial jets is concentrated between Airbus and Boeing, with Airbus delivering 793 aircraft in 2025 and Boeing delivering 600.
What is constraining aircraft manufacturing output in 2026 reporting?
IATA estimated delivery shortfalls of at least 5,300 aircraft, citing skilled-labor shortages, engine and component bottlenecks, and fragile supplier networks.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 11). Aviation Manufacturing Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aviation-manufacturing-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Aviation Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 11 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/aviation-manufacturing-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Aviation Manufacturing Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/aviation-manufacturing-industry-statistics.

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