Airbus is holding its lead in the 2010 deliveries race, pumping out 380 aircraft in the nine months to the end of September – up by 22 units over its performance in the same period last year and bettering Boeing by 34 units.
Airbus has achieved 14 A380 deliveries so far this year, the latest being Emirates’ thirteenth example, delivered on 28 September. The airframer is aiming to deliver at least 20 of the type in 2010.
Airbus sealed agreements in September from Cathay Pacific, for 30 A350-900s, and Lufthansa for eight A330s, bound for its mainline operation as well as Swiss International Air Lines.
While Boeing’s 56 777s delivered in 2010 equate to roughly seven aircraft a month, Boeing says it has not yet returned its largest twinjet to its maximum production rate.
Boeing announced in April 2009 that it would cut 777 production from seven to five aircraft a month by June 2010, reversing course in March as the global jetliner market rebounded early in 2010, prompting a return to seven aircraft a month by mid-2011, six months earlier than previously planned.
Boeing expects to between 460 and 465 aircraft in 2010.
Source: Flight International
