Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Airbus Industrie has seized number one position in the over 100-seat airliner market, overtaking its US rival Boeing for the first time in order backlog numbers. At the end of October, 1,456 Airbuses remained for delivery, compared to 1,423 Boeings. The consortium's achievement is the first time Europe's aerospace industry has headed the jet rankings since the de Havilland Comet-led order boom of the early 1950s.
Airbus has moved into pole position on the strength of a relatively high order intake so far this year (404 firm orders, against 157 for Boeing). The addition of the 100-seat A318 to its product line this year has boosted orders, allowing the consortium to match Boeing's offerings in every sector except the 400-seat market, where the lack of a product is not a major handicap given the decline in 747 sales. The balance of orders is also affected by output levels, with 236 Airbuses produced in the first 10 months, against 504 Boeings.
With two months' of orders to add this year, the backlog position could yet be reversed by the end of December. Nevertheless, Airbus has achieved its ambition of delivering 50% of all 100-seat-plus aircraft. Its ascent has taken just under 30 years, with a push since the mid-1990s moving it from around 30% to 37% in 1997 and 42% last year.
Production is continuing to increase, with nearly 300 aircraft to be delivered this year and around 330 in 2000. Production is expected to stabilise at around 350 a year.
Source: Flight International
