Boeing edges Airbus on orders in 2007

EVERETT — The Boeing Co. kept its crown as the top aircraft seller in 2007, narrowly beating Airbus by 72 aircraft.

Airbus said Wednesday it logged 1,341 net orders last year for commercial jets, trailing the 1,412 sold by Boeing. But Airbus said it beat its rival in aircraft deliveries, sending 453 aircraft to customers compared with Boeing's 441. Among Airbus' successes was the delivery of the first super jumbo A380 to Singapore Airlines following production problems that had sparked significant delays.

In 2007, Boeing set records for the sale of 737s and was also boosted by the immense popularity of the 787. The Dreamliner has its best year ever in 2007, selling 369 aircraft. The 787 has yet to fly, and Boeing announced today that its test flight will be delayed by at least three months.

Airbus Chief Executive Thomas Enders said the company had a record year. "Now it becomes a question of how we manage the backlog," he told the Associated Press.

Airbus projected that its 2008 orders will exceed deliveries, of which it has scheduled more than 470.

The company, which has been through a rough patch in recent years, also said it beat its own goals for lowering costs in 2007.

However, jet sales are expected to slow considerably for both Airbus and Boeing in 2008.

But planemakers will be cushioned from the slowdown by bulging order books that will take several years to fill. Airbus said at the end of last year it had a backlog of 3,421 aircraft, representing six years of production at steadily increasing rates