Airbus and Boeing are the two most prominent manufacturers in the commercial aircraft market. Apart from a relatively small number of Embraers and Bombardiers in the regional markets, most commercial airliners are built by either Airbus or Boeing. The two manufacturing giants have what seems to be a healthy rivalry, but it was not always the case.
Taking a brief dive into history, we look at how this rivalry has evolved over the years, generally regarding commercial aircraft and where it stands today. Type Boeing Airbus Commercial Aircraft Yes Yes Commercial Helicopters No Yes Military Helicopters Yes Yes Military Aircraft (Fighter Jets & Transport Aircraft) Yes Yes Unmanned Aircraft Yes Yes AEW&C Aircraft Yes No Satellites Yes Yes Space Launch Systems Yes Yes Silo-based Ballistic Missile Systems Yes No The early days Boeing is a much older company that was established in 1916 and truly made its mark in commercial aviation after the 1950s. It was one of the first to enter the jet-powered era, enabling long-haul commercial travel.
The iconic Boeing 707s, 727s, 737s, and 747s became the early leaders of long-haul travel. Airbus, on the other hand, was formed much later, precisely with the introduction of the A300 in the early 1970s. The 300-passenger widebody design brought the Airbus partners together to form the company.
While individual partners had experiences with commercial airliners, it was the first time a new jet aircraft was introduced under the “Airbus Industrie”.
