Airbus, Boeing Are Closing In on a Record Year

Airbus said it won 687 purchase agreements through Nov. 30, fewer than Boeing, making it likely the U.S. plane maker will come out ahead in 2005, a year that may be the best ever for the industry in new orders.

Airbus’ figure, published on its website Wednesday, compares with 800 orders for Boeing in the same period. The tallies don’t include announced orders by China for 70 planes from Boeing and 150 from Airbus because Chinese authorities haven’t yet signed firm purchase contracts.

The combined figure of 1,487 orders won through Nov. 30 brings Boeing and Airbus within reach of breaking the record 1,600 orders booked for large commercial planes in 1989.

Airbus, which has been the largest commercial aircraft maker since 2003 when it surpassed Boeing, expects to keep that lead at least until 2008. Airbus is promising 370 deliveries for the full year compared with 290 for Boeing. For the 11 months through November, Airbus has delivered 337 aircraft compared with 268 for Boeing.

On Wednesday, Airbus said it won orders valued at more than $2 billion from two carriers.

Airbus will sell 12 new wide-body aircraft valued at $1.17 billion to Finnair, Finland’s biggest airline, including nine A350s and three A340s. It also received an order from Deutsche Lufthansa’s Germanwings discount affiliate for 18 single-aisle A319 planes in a $1-billion contract.

Airbus is 80% owned by European Aeronautic, Defense & Space Co. and 20% owned by BAE Systems. Boeing is headquartered in Chicago.