Airbus beats Boeing

MANUFACTURING               AIRBUS             BOEING

Global - Despite its problematic A380 aircraft, Airbus made a record number of deliveries in 2009, beating US rival Boeing.

Airbus said it delivered over a total of 498 aircraft to customers in 2009, 15 more than in 2008 and beating Boeing for the seventh year running.

After adjusting for order cancellations, Airbus sold nearly twice as many planes as Boeing in 2009, raking in net sales of 271 aircraft compared to Boeing's 142.

The planemaker said it had a total order backlog of almost 3,500 aircraft at the end of 2009.

Airbus, however, has been plagued with technical difficulties on its flagship A380 model, which it admits will remain a cost liability for some time to come.

A380 output fell in its second full year of production. Airbus was quoted in media reports as saying an internal audit had found ways of making it more efficiently, and the company promises to step up production.

Emirates' A380 was the latest plane to be grounded this week due to a technical glitch in the plane's fuel system. The plane was delayed at a South Korean airport this week.

Singapore budget carrier Tiger Airways said it was bringing forward the delivery of five Airbus A320 aircraft in a bid to boost expansion into Asia and Australia. The aircraft will now be delivered later this year and in early 2011 instead of the original dates in 2016, the company said in a statement.

'In view of the opportunities for us to grow our business in both Asia and Australia, we have accelerated delivery of these five new aircraft from their original delivery dates in 2016 to now join our fleet later this year and in early 2011,' Tiger chief executive Tony Davis said.

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