Aircraft
Airbus and Boeing Face Varying Challenges in 2026
Increased production rates and future aircraft decisions dominate management tasks
Boeing 737 final assembly in Renton
Boeing is aiming to achieve a monthly production rate of 52 737 narrowbody airliners by the end of 2026.

At the start of each year, Leeham News and Analysis (LNA) gives its assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing leading aerospace companies. These in-depth features are available to subscribers, and here is a summary of the AIN Media Group platform’s key takeaways for the world’s leading airliner manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing.

Lars Wagner, who succeeded Christian Scherer as president and CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft on January 1, faces an array of supply chain issues and key decisions over the future of the A220 program and prospects for open-fan engine technology.