Airbus passes Boeing in aircraft orders but may stop A380 production

EUROPEAN aerospace giant Airbus overtook archrival Boeing in aircraft orders last year, but warned that it could cease making its A380 jet if it does not receive any more orders for the supersize plane.

Airbus said it booked 1 109 aircraft orders and a record 718 deliveries last year.

By comparison, US rival Boeing booked 912 orders and 763 deliveries.

Chief operating officer Fabrice Bregier said that overall deliveries could rise to 800 this year, given the increased pace of production of its A320neo aircraft.

The medium-haul A320neo and A321neo jets feature new-generation engines that use 15% less fuel compared with their peers.

“We are going to double the number of A320neos delivered this year,” Bregier said.

“If we do that, we will be close to 800 deliveries this year.”

He acknowledged that deliveries of the A320neo had been slowed last year by problems with the engines made by US firm Pratt & Withney and by CFM, the joint venture of General Electric and Safran.

Nevertheless, the problems were gradually being resolved and about 30 aircraft were waiting for their engines, down from 60 at the beginning of the year, he said.

Turning to the A380, sales director John Leahy warned that Airbus would have no choice but to halt the programme if Dubai’s Emirates airline -- the main customer for the superjumbo launched in 2007 -- did not place another order.

“We are still talking to Emirates, but honestly, they are probably the only one to have the ability right now on the market place to take a minimum of six per year on a period of eight to 10 years,” Leahy said.