Airbus and Boeing have achieved record sales this year with their combined net orders approaching 2,400 aircraft. It is neck-and-neck between the two as 2007 draws to a close.
Airbus's net orders stood at 1,095 at the end of November, ahead of its record 1,055 net set in 2005. Although the European airframer had 1,204 gross orders, there are over 100 cancellations, largely due to adjustments in the A350 order book as customers for the original version switch their contracts to the XWB model.
Airbus's December deals revealed through to the end of last week took its net total to 1,177.
Boeing's latest declared total - dated 11 December - shows 1,146 net orders, surpassing the 1,044 record it achieved in 2006. An AWAS order for 31 737s announced in mid-December took this to 1,177, matching Airbus exactly.
Although more orders are likely before the year closes, the two rivals' combined net orders are already beyond 2,350 aircraft, smashing the all-time orders record of 2,057 which was set in 2005. That was the only year previously when both airframers' orders were beyond 1,000.
Meanwhile, in the regional sector the turboprop revival is stronger than ever, with combined orders for the ATR family and Bombardier QSeries at around 190 aircraft - a record for this decade. Again, the two protagonists are neck-and-neck, with ATR orders standing at 88 and Q Series at 90 (for its 2008 fiscal year).
Source: FlightGlobal.com
