Strong sales in last weeks of 2017 helped Airbus to overtake Boeing and become the world’s aircraft manufacturer leader. Thus, the European company for the fifth consecutive year ended first in deals.
A message from Airbus said the company’s orders, including those that were canceled, amounted to 1,109 aircraft. This is an increase of 52% compared to 2017. In the past 12 months, Boeing’s net orders were for 912 aircraft. The European company also announced that it has achieved its annual target and delivered 718 aircraft. This is a 4% increase compared to 2016. According to Chief Operating Officer, Fabrice Bregier, in 2018 the completed aircraft could reaches up to 800 units.
However, the US manufacturer remains the largest in the market for the sixth consecutive year with orders for 763 aircraft.
According to Bregier, record orders for over 7,000 aircraft to be completed will allow Airbus to overtake Boeing in this category by 2020.
The peak in the European manufacturer’s sales in December was focused on the main models of the company’s portfolio – the A320.
According to the chief sales director of Airbus, John Leahy, last month’s boom was due to stronger than expected demand. Some sources in the sector, however, did not rule out a price cuts as reason.
Not so positive about Airbus in the segment of long-range aircraft. There, the European producer’s share dropped almost half to 25% from 51% in the previous year. This means that not only there were no new orders, but also two were canceled, putting the future of A380 under question.
Boeing also had to deal with canceled orders for its 747.
