Boeing likely to outpace Airbus with record orders for 2006

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.: With net orders for 1,044 commercial aircraft in 2006, Boeing looks set to overhaul its closest rival, Airbus, in the 2006 aircraft sales sweepstakes. Airbus is due to declare its tally for 2006 on 17 January, this year, but signals emanating from the Toulose, France, based European giant would make it appear that it may have already conceded a second place finish to its closest trans-Atlantic competitor.

Boeing would thus appear all set to top rival Airbus in aircraft orders for the first time since 2000.

At 1,044 orders Boeing has overhauled its 2005 record of 1,002 orders. The Chicago headquartered aviation and aerospace giant said that its 2006 sales were powered by a record 729 net orders for 737s.

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft. The company also has considerable capabilities in rotorcraft, electronic and defence systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems.

The company delivered 398 commercial planes in 2006, which is a 37 per cent jump over 2005, and also its highest total since 2001. The deliveries were led by 302 737 deliveries.

Boeing said it took 157 orders last year for 787s, 76 for 777s, 10 for 767s and 72 for 747s, the highest total for the 747 program since 1990. Its backlog was up 35.7% from a year earlier to 2,455 aircraft.