Airbus closes in on record for jet orders, leads Boeing

Published 7:07 am Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Airbus reported another strong month of aircraft orders for October, bringing its tally for the year to 1,231 orders.

The European jet maker leads rival the Boeing Co., which posted 428 net orders through the first 10 months of the year. Airbus is on pace to top its 2007 sales record of 1,341 net orders.

Airbus added 193 new orders to its backlog in October, the company said on Tuesday. Leading Airbus’ orders charge in October was the jet maker’s A320 New Engine Option jet, or A320neo. The company said it has firm orders for 1,000 of the updated single-aisle aircraft, which was launched last December.

Last week, Boeing said it has 600 tentative orders for the 737 MAX, the Chicago-based jet maker’s answer to the A320neo. Boeing hasn’t finalized those orders, which could boost its 2011 order tally over the 1,000 order mark.

Airbus also leads Boeing in deliveries so far in 2011 with 418 jets handed over to customers. Boeing has delivered 387 aircraft through the end of October.