Dubai show gives Airbus boost

Airbus looks ready to beat the Boeing Co. in commercial jet orders in 2007, besting its rival at the Dubai Airshow.

The European jet maker pulled ahead of Boeing in year-to-date orders at the end of October, listing 1,021 orders to Boeing's 959. After grabbing roughly $50 billion in deals for more than 200 planes in Dubai, Airbus says it will break records for both jet orders and deliveries in 2007.

That could put Airbus back in the top spot that it ceded to Boeing in 2006.

"We expect to have delivered 450 aircraft so far this year by mid-November," Tom Enders, Airbus president and chief executive, said at the Dubai International Airshow.

Boeing has announced several orders and commitments from customers at the airshow, which runs through Thursday, but the only new request the company has won in Dubai came from Royal Jordanian for two 787s.

Both Boeing and Airbus picked up big commitments from state-owned Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, in deals announced Monday. DAE will buy 100 Airbus planes for $13.5 billion and 100 from Boeing for $13.7 billion.

That order comprises 70 Boeing 737s and 30 widebody aircraft, Boeing said. The widebody fleet will be split among 787s, 777s and 747 freighters. However, Boeing noted on its Web site that the order has not been finalized.

Boeing also won an order from LCAL, a Dubai-based leasing company, for six 787 ­Dreamliner jets.

"The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will set the new standard in operator and passenger preference for decades to come, while taking a significant step to address the environmental issue," said Steve Clarke, LCAL president and chief operating officer, in a press statement.

Boeing also announced on Sunday orders from Emirates for 12 777s and Qatar Airways for 30 787s and five 777s. Those orders were previously attributed to undisclosed customers on Boeing's Web site.

On Sunday, Airbus stole the airshow and the big order from Boeing, winning a $31 billion deal from Emirates Airline. The Dubai-based carrier selected Airbus' A350 over Boeing's 787, ordering 70 from Airbus and picking up options for an additional 50 A350s. Emirates also provided a shot of confidence to Airbus' A380 super jumbo jet, ordering 11.

Toulouse, France-based Airbus has also signed agreements with low-cost carrier Air Arabia, Saudi Arabian Airlines and National Air Service for more than 75 of Airbus' single-aisle A320s.

Airbus' chief salesman, John Leahy, told media in Dubai that he anticipates the A350 will win 300 orders by the end of the year; that's up from an earlier prediction of 200.

At the end of October, Boeing had received 288 requests for its fast-selling 787. The company recently delayed the first delivery of the Dreamliner by six months.

The Dubai Airshow, the third-largest event of its kind, is closely watched as a measure of the state of Gulf air carriers, who are taking advantage of shifting travel routes to substantially expand fleets.