Airbus Delivers Record; Orders Drop

Airbus delivered a record 483 aircraft last year, 30 more than in 2007. Orders declined 42 percent from 1,343 the previous year to 777.

Reporting annual results today in Toulouse, France, Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders warned that 2009 “will be a very challenging year for the aeronautics industry,” but said the airframer has a solid financial basis.

Earlier this month, Boeing reported 375 deliveries in 2008, down 15 percent from the previous year, and 662 net orders, down 53 percent from 1,413 in 2007.

With 777 net orders last year, valued at $100 billion at catalog prices, Airbus claims 54 percent of market share of aircraft over 100 seats. The orders include 472 narrowbody A320s, 301 long-range A330s, A340s and coming A350XWBs, and nine superjumbo A380s. Five A310s were cancelled.

Airbus said its backlog at the conclusion of 2008 was a record 3,715 aircraft.