Airbus's latest orders have taken the airframer to a record backlog approaching 4,000 aircraft, amounting to more than seven years' production.

The manufacturer secured orders for 601 jets in June - notably during the Paris air show - and its latest order data, for the first half of 2011, shows its backlog has risen to 3,934.

Airbus said this represents "nearly eight years of production at current output rates".

Its figures to 30 June do not include the Chinese A320 order disclosed on 28 June, covering 88 aircraft, which the airframer described as firm at the time.

The first-half backlog comprises 2,834 A320-family aircraft, including variants of the A320neo, as well as 344 A330s, four A340s, 567 A350s and 185 A380s.

Airbus's overall gross order total has reached 10,700 aircraft.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news