Explore the top 10 commercial aircraft manufacturers, compare their most recognizable planes, and browse a wider worldwide directory—without confusing active manufacturers with discontinued programs.

Have you ever wondered who makes the airplanes used by Emirates, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, Delta, or other airlines? This list of commercial aircraft manufacturers in the world (2026) introduces the major companies behind passenger jets, regional turboprops and smaller commuter aircraft. You will also learn which famous names have left the airline manufacturing business.
Airbus and Boeing dominate the market for large commercial airliners. Embraer is a major name in regional jets, ATR in regional turboprops, and China’s COMAC is developing a broader line of passenger aircraft. The ten detailed profiles below preserve the companies in our original guide, including legacy names such as Mitsubishi Aircraft and Bombardier.
About the numbers: 2025 is the latest completed full calendar year used for the Airbus–Boeing comparison; these are actual manufacturer-reported deliveries, not a prediction for all of 2026. They do not make this top-ten selection a strict worldwide ranking by volume.
Top 10 Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers in the World (2026)
The following are the 10 major names covered in our guide, including current manufacturers, projects under development and historically important brands. This is an editorial overview, not a strict ranking of the ten biggest active manufacturers.
| # | Manufacturer | Origin | Representative aircraft | 2026 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airbus | Europe (head office in France) | A220, A320neo / A321XLR, A330neo, A350 | Active airliner maker |
| 2 | Boeing | United States | 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, 777, 767 (including freighters) | Active airliner maker |
| 3 | Embraer | Brazil | E175, E190-E2, E195-E2 | Active airliner maker |
| 4 | ATR | France / Italy | ATR 42-600, ATR 72-600 | Active airliner maker |
| 5 | COMAC | China | C909 (formerly ARJ21), C919; C929 in development | Active airliner maker |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation | Japan | SpaceJet / MRJ (cancelled) | Legacy / no new airline jets |
| 7 | De Havilland Canada | Canada | Dash 8-400 (fleet support / refurbishment), DHC-6 Twin Otter | Mixed: support or developing aircraft |
| 8 | United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) | Russia | Sukhoi Superjet 100, SJ-100, MC-21, Il-114-300 | Mixed: support or developing aircraft |
| 9 | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) | India | Dornier Do-228, civil Hindustan-228 initiative | Mixed: support or developing aircraft |
| 10 | Bombardier | Canada | CRJ series and CSeries (legacy); Global and Challenger business jets | Legacy / no new airline jets |
Note: “commercial aircraft” can mean large airline jets, regional airliners, cargo and commuter aircraft, or—more broadly—business aviation. This article prioritizes aircraft used for passenger transport and clearly identifies business-jet or historical manufacturers.
The Top 10 Manufacturers Explained
Below are the key facts about each company: its home market, familiar aircraft models, strengths and how relevant it remains in 2026.
Airbus
ActiveAirbus is one of the two dominant manufacturers of large commercial passenger jets. Its aircraft cover short domestic routes, busy medium-haul networks and long-distance international services. The A320neo family is especially important to airlines that need frequent, fuel-efficient flights, while the A350 is designed for long-haul operations.
Airbus also builds the smaller A220, the versatile A330neo and the longer-range A321XLR. The famous double-deck A380 still flies with airlines, but it is no longer being produced. Across 2025, Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft, making it the largest of the two major airliner makers by deliveries that year.
Boeing
ActiveBoeing is Airbus’s biggest rival in the large-airliner market and one of the world’s best-known aviation manufacturers. The Boeing 737 family serves short and medium-distance routes, while the 787 Dreamliner and 777 families are associated with long-haul flying. Boeing also supplies commercial freighters and extensive fleet-support services.

Its legendary 747 Jumbo Jet remains part of aviation history, but 747 production has ended. Boeing reported 600 commercial airplane deliveries in 2025. Airlines comparing Boeing and Airbus focus on the exact aircraft model, operating cost, capacity, range and after-sales support—not simply which manufacturer has the more famous name.
Embraer
ActiveEmbraer specializes in commercial jets for routes where a larger Boeing or Airbus aircraft may have more seats than the airline needs. Its E-Jet family is well suited to connecting regional cities, serving secondary airports and adding flight frequencies to business-heavy routes.

The newer E190-E2 and E195-E2 combine modern engines with improved cabin designs. Embraer also continues to support its earlier E-Jets, including the E175. In 2025, Embraer delivered 78 commercial jets. It also produces executive and defense aircraft, but regional passenger jets remain the reason it belongs in this top-10 list.
ATR
ActiveATR is a French-Italian aircraft manufacturer best known for its short-haul turboprop aircraft. Unlike a jet, a turboprop uses propellers driven by turbine engines. For relatively short routes, especially where passenger demand is lower or airport infrastructure is limited, this can be an attractive option.

The ATR 72-600 and ATR 42-600 help regional airlines connect smaller cities and islands to major hubs. The company reported 60 gross aircraft orders in 2025 and continued preparing for a production ramp-up in 2026. ATR’s main competitors are other regional and commuter aircraft—not wide-body jets such as the Airbus A350.
COMAC
ActiveCOMAC, short for Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, is one of the most important newer names in passenger aircraft manufacturing. Its C919 is designed for the busy single-aisle segment served by aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The regional C909 was previously known as the ARJ21.

The company began using the C909 name in 2024. By mid-2026, COMAC said the C919 was operating with major Chinese airlines, while the C909 was flying in China and parts of Southeast Asia. Its larger C929 wide-body project was still in the design stage; it should not be described as an aircraft already carrying passengers.
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
LegacyMitsubishi Aircraft Corporation deserves mention because Japan’s SpaceJet—originally known as the MRJ—was a highly publicized attempt to enter the regional passenger-jet market. The project aimed to challenge established regional aircraft manufacturers, but it did not become an airline-service success.
Important 2026 correction: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries officially discontinued SpaceJet development on 7 February 2023. Therefore, Mitsubishi Aircraft should not be presented as an active competitor selling new SpaceJet airliners today. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries separately owns the former Bombardier CRJ program’s support business, which services aircraft already flying.
De Havilland Canada
Mixed statusDe Havilland Canada is closely associated with the Dash 8 family, particularly the Q400 / Dash 8-400 regional turboprop. These airplanes are used in markets where regional connectivity, challenging weather and efficient short-haul operations matter. The company also has the DHC-6 Twin Otter family in its portfolio.

There is an important distinction between supporting an existing aircraft fleet and producing new aircraft at scale. De Havilland Canada has emphasized refurbishing and upgrading Dash 8 aircraft, while discussing a longer-term roadmap for possible renewed Dash 8 production. That is more accurate than saying full-rate new Dash 8-400 production is currently operating.
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC)
Mixed statusUnited Aircraft Corporation (UAC) brings together multiple Russian aircraft businesses, including programs associated with Sukhoi, Yakovlev and Ilyushin. The earlier Sukhoi Superjet 100 has carried passengers, while the newer SJ-100, MC-21 and Il-114-300 programs are central to Russia’s efforts to build and supply more locally produced passenger aircraft.
UAC publicized testing and development progress during 2026. However, a flight test, prototype or manufacturer presentation is not the same as broad airline service. The precise certification and delivery status of each UAC aircraft should be checked before an airline or traveler treats it as routinely available.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
Mixed statusHindustan Aeronautics Limited is better known for defense aircraft, but it also has a connection to civil and regional flying. HAL manufactures the 19-seat Dornier Do-228 aircraft and has worked on a civil-certified version / Hindustan-228 initiative intended for regional connectivity.
This is different from manufacturing an Airbus- or Boeing-sized passenger jet. The Do-228 serves smaller transport and utility roles, including government operations. In February 2026, India’s Ministry of Defence announced an order for eight Do-228 aircraft for the Indian Coast Guard. For aviation students, HAL is relevant to India’s wider aerospace manufacturing ambitions.
Bombardier
LegacyBombardier helped shape modern regional air travel. Its Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) series flew with airlines around the world, and its CSeries program became the Airbus A220 family. The company was also previously linked to the Q400 turboprop program.
But Bombardier is no longer a manufacturer of new commercial passenger airliners. The company exited commercial aerospace as it sold its airliner programs, with the CRJ business transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2020. Bombardier now focuses on business aircraft, including the Global and Challenger families. It appears here for its historical importance, not as a current rival to Airbus or Boeing in airline-jet deliveries.
Extended List of Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Worldwide
The 10 profiles above are not the only important names in aviation. Here is a wider list of aircraft manufacturers grouped by their role, including additional companies and historical brands. These are names to know—not 30 additional full profiles.
Active passenger / regional aircraft makers
- Airbus — Europe (A220, A320, A350)
- Boeing — United States (737, 787, 777)
- Embraer — Brazil (E-Jets)
- ATR — France / Italy (ATR 42/72)
- COMAC — China (C909, C919)
- United Aircraft Corporation / Yakovlev — Russia (Superjet, MC-21 programs)
- De Havilland Canada — Canada (Twin Otter; Dash 8 support)
- HAL — India (Do-228 / Hindustan-228)
- Aircraft Industries (LET) — Czech Republic (L 410 NG)
- Textron Aviation / Cessna — United States (SkyCourier)
- Tecnam — Italy (P2012 Traveller)
- Indonesian Aerospace / PTDI — Indonesia (N219)
Historic, discontinued or absorbed airline makers
- Bombardier / Canadair — Canada (CRJ, CSeries legacy)
- Mitsubishi Aircraft — Japan (SpaceJet, cancelled)
- McDonnell Douglas — United States (MD-80, MD-11)
- Douglas Aircraft — United States (DC series)
- Lockheed — United States (L-1011 TriStar)
- Fokker — Netherlands (F27, F70, F100)
- Saab Aircraft — Sweden (Saab 340, 2000)
- British Aerospace / BAe — United Kingdom (BAe 146, Jetstream)
- Hawker Siddeley — United Kingdom (HS 748, Trident)
- Short Brothers — United Kingdom (Short 330, 360)
- Fairchild Dornier — Germany / United States (328JET)
- Vickers — United Kingdom (Viscount, VC10)
- Convair — United States (CV-240 family)
- NAMC — Japan (YS-11)
Other regional, legacy or developing programs
- Antonov — Ukraine (An-24, An-148; legacy/disrupted civil programs)
- AVIC / Xi’an Aircraft — China (MA60, MA600 families)
- Tupolev — Russia (Tu-154, Tu-204; within UAC)
- Ilyushin — Russia (Il-96, Il-114; within UAC)
- Sukhoi Civil Aircraft — Russia (SSJ100 legacy name; within UAC)
- RUAG / Dornier 228 program — Germany / Switzerland (Do-228 lineage)
Business-jet manufacturers (different category)
- Bombardier — Canada (Global, Challenger)
- Gulfstream Aerospace — United States (Gulfstream jets)
- Dassault Aviation — France (Falcon jets)
- Honda Aircraft — United States / Japan (HondaJet)
- Pilatus — Switzerland (PC-12, PC-24)
- Textron Aviation — United States (Citation, King Air)
Scope note: The list brings together active, developing and historical manufacturers, including parent companies and brands later absorbed into other groups. It is a broad reference list rather than an official exhaustive registry of every aircraft builder in history. Business jets are separated from scheduled-airline aircraft so their makers are not mistaken for current large-airliner competitors.
How Do Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers Compete?
An airline does not normally choose an aircraft just because the brand is famous. It compares aircraft economics and suitability for specific routes, then considers how well the manufacturer can support the fleet over decades.
Airlines examine fuel burn per seat, maintenance costs, acquisition price and how full a plane must be to make a route profitable.
Regional aircraft, single-aisle jets and long-haul wide-bodies are built for very different passenger loads and distances.
Regulatory approvals, reliability, training and operating procedures matter more than unsupported claims that one brand is always the “safest.”
Spare parts, maintenance programs, technical support and fleet availability can strongly influence purchasing decisions.
Engine improvements, aerodynamics, cabin noise and compatibility with approved fuel blends shape new-aircraft design.
Even a suitable aircraft may be hard to obtain quickly. Airlines evaluate order backlogs and realistic delivery timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the largest commercial aircraft manufacturer in the world in 2026?
For the latest completed full year in this guide, Airbus led Boeing in commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025: 793 versus 600. “Largest” can also refer to revenue, orders, total aircraft built or workforce, so define the metric before making a ranking.
Who are the top commercial aircraft manufacturers besides Airbus and Boeing?
Embraer is a major maker of regional jets; ATR specializes in regional turboprops; COMAC makes the C909 and C919; and De Havilland Canada and other smaller manufacturers are important in commuter and regional aircraft markets.
How many commercial aircraft manufacturers are there worldwide?
There is no single universal total. The answer changes depending on whether you count only active large-airliner producers or also commuter aircraft, turboprops, cargo aircraft, business jets, former manufacturers and subsidiary brands. The directory above lists more than 30 relevant names across these categories.
Does China manufacture commercial passenger aircraft?
Yes. COMAC makes the regional C909 (formerly ARJ21) and the single-aisle C919. The larger C929 remains a development program rather than an established in-service wide-body airline model.
Does India manufacture commercial aircraft?
India’s HAL manufactures the smaller Dornier Do-228 transport aircraft and has worked on a civil Hindustan-228 version. This should not be confused with producing large passenger jets comparable in size to an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737.
Are Mitsubishi SpaceJet and Bombardier CRJ still in production?
No new Mitsubishi SpaceJet aircraft are being produced; its development was cancelled in 2023. Bombardier left commercial-airliner production and its former CRJ program is now supported under Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Existing CRJ aircraft may continue flying even though new Bombardier CRJs are no longer being manufactured.
Is ATR a jet aircraft manufacturer?
ATR primarily builds turboprop passenger aircraft such as the ATR 42 and ATR 72. They use propellers powered by turbine engines, not the turbofan jet engines used on Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 aircraft.
Final Thoughts
The world of commercial aviation goes far beyond two famous aircraft brands. Airbus and Boeing lead the large passenger-jet market, Embraer and ATR are central to regional flying, and COMAC continues expanding China’s passenger-aircraft capability. Manufacturers such as HAL, De Havilland Canada and UAC help explain how varied the market really is.
The most important point to remember in 2026 is that a familiar aircraft brand is not necessarily still building new commercial airliners. Check whether a model is in production, in development, supported as a legacy fleet or cancelled before comparing manufacturers.
Understanding aircraft makers can be useful for airline interviews and aviation students. You can also explore our Emirates cabin crew CV guide for a separate practical career resource.
Sources and fact-checking
Manufacturer and official-source references checked for this 29 October 2026 update; 2025 delivery figures are the latest completed annual totals used in the article.
- Airbus: 793 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2025.
- Boeing: full-year 2025 commercial aircraft deliveries.
- Embraer: 2025 commercial aviation delivery results.
- ATR: 2025 performance and 2026 production plans.
- COMAC: ARJ21 renamed C909 and 2026 aircraft-family update.
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: SpaceJet cancellation notice.
- De Havilland Canada: Dash 8 refurbishment program.
- UAC: 2026 commercial aircraft programs.
- India Ministry of Defence: 2026 HAL Do-228 contract.
- Aircraft Industries: L 410 NG commuter turboprop.



