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Airbus pips Boeing on surge in late orders

18 January 2011 09:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku - APA-Economics. AIRBUS sprinted past Boeing to win the annual orders race last year after a last-minute airline buying spree highlighted a recovery in emerging markets and the low-fare sector, Business Day reported.

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) subsidiary said it had sold 644 aircraft worth more than $84bn at list prices last year, beating arch- rival Boeingâ€™s total of 625 aircraft, following a surge of about 200 orders last month.

"These figures show the economy is improving. We have dodged the bullet on a double-dip recession. Aviation is growing again because of Asia, low-cost carriers and emerging markets,"

Airbusâ€™s late spree included the first firm purchase of a revamped A320 passenger jet, the A320neo, by Richard Bransonâ€™s California-based low-cost airline Virgin America.

The British entrepreneur staged a signing ceremony with Airbus executives yesterday, although the actual deal was concluded in secrecy at the end of December.

Adjusting for cancellations, Airbus sold a net total of 574 aircraft worth $74bn at list prices compared with Boeingâ€™s 530, giving the European company a market share of 52%. The orders were stronger than many analysts had predicted.

Industry sources, however, last week said Airbus was poised to pull off a surprise win in both net and gross orders as it approached the 10000th aircraft order in its 40-year history, while remaining ahead on jetliner deliveries.

Boeing reported 625 gross orders and 530 net orders last year after more than doubling its sales from 2009 when business was left floundering by the financial crisis.

Both firms more than doubled their order intake last year as airlines staged a stronger than expected recovery. They share the commercial market for large air craft with at least 100 seats but face challenges from Canada, China, Russia and Brazil.

For the eighth year running, Airbus delivered more aircraft than its US rival. Its total of 510 deliveries, up from 498 in 2009, topped the 500 mark for the first time at Airbus.

Virgin Americaâ€™s order is for 60 Airbus A320 jets including 30 A320neo aircraft with newer engines. The upgrade aims to prolong the life of Airbusâ€™s best-seller by offering 15% fuel savings.