Boeing outpaces Airbus in plane orders
Seattle : US aerospace group Boeing left European rival Airbus in its slipstream when booking new plane orders in the first half of the year, figures released by Airbus showed.
Boeing had reported a net 499 new orders between January 1 and June 30, including 54 cancellations.
Airbus meanwhile suffered 225 cancellations, limiting it to 290 net aircraft orders in the six-month period.
Boeing was slightly ahead in terms of deliveries as well, with 342 new planes flown to clients, compared with 303 for Airbus.The two groups dominate the global market for passenger airliners and their orders give a good idea of how the civil aviation sector is faring.
Airbus commercial chief John Leahy had forecast in May that Airbus and Boeing would finish the year neck-and-neck, AFP reports.
Meanwhile ,Boeing Company has delivered the 1,500th 747 to come off the production line to Frankfurt, Germany-based Lufthansa. The milestone airplane is a 747-8 Intercontinental, the 14th one that Lufthansa will incorporate into its long-haul fleet.
“Reaching this milestone delivery is a testament to the capabilities of the airplane and our commitment to continuous innovation,” said Eric Lindblad, 747 vice president and general manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The new 747-8 is delivering on its promise to our customers, and we continue to look at ways to make it even more efficient in the future.”
The 747 is the first widebody airplane in history to reach the 1,500 milestone. Its iconic shape makes it instantly recognizable, and passengers have consistently voted it their favorite airplane to fly.- Boeing , July 5, 2014
