European-based Airbus SE (EADSY  ) has retained the crown of the largest aircraft manufacturer for the third year in a row. The company maintained its title thanks to its considerably larger delivery volume.

In terms of sales, Boeing (BA  ) outsold Airbus with 909 orders for 2021, compared to Airbus' 771. When it came to deliveries, though, Boeing lagged considerably. Airbus delivered 611 planes in 2021, with Boeing managing only 280 deliveries.

"Our commercial aircraft achievements in 2021 reflect the focus and resilience of our Airbus teams, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders across the globe who pulled together to deliver remarkable results. The year saw significant orders from airlines worldwide, signaling confidence in the sustainable growth of air travel post-COVID," Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in a press release. "While uncertainties remain, we are on track to lift production through 2022 to meet our customers' requirements. At the same time, we are preparing the future of aviation, transforming our industrial capabilities, and implementing the roadmap for decarbonization."

Boeing's forward progress remains marred by the 737 Max scandal, with more recent developments such as allegations that the company ignored U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warnings only serving to undermine its reputation further. The scandal so far has resulted in production delays, canceled orders, and Boeing's first yearly loss for two decades.

Boeing's superiority in wide-body jets is soon to be directly challenged by Airbus' own wide-body model. Boeing's historic and vaunted 747 is set to end production this year, with its replacement, the 777X, three years late and unapproved by the FAA.

Airbus, however, seems to have hit the ceiling in terms of production capacity. A recent purchase by Allegiant (ALGT  ) saw the company ordering up to 100 737 MAX jets due to lengthy wait times for delivery of the company's usual Airbus jets. However, Airbus is set to increase its production capacity to take advantage of the return in travel demand and further eat into Boeing's market share.