Airbus raised plane forecasts

Planemaker Airbus raised its forecast for deliveries by 6 per cent to 34,899 aircraft worth $5.3 trillion over the next 20 years. But the group trimmed its forecast for air traffic growth to 4.4 per cent from 4.5 per cent yesterday, taking a more cautious view on the Americas while boosting the Middle East despite Gulf political volatility.