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http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001821234_airbus23.html
With 300th delivery, Airbus beats Boeing
By Bloomberg News
Airbus delivered its 300th aircraft for 2003 and plans "a few more" deliveries before Dec. 31, meaning the company will beat its target for the year and overtake Boeing as the world's biggest plane maker, Chief Executive Noël Forgeard said.
The goal was reached Friday evening when Airbus turned over Singapore Airlines' first A340-500 long-haul plane, Forgeard said in an interview at his Toulouse, France, headquarters.
This year's target of 300 deliveries by Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space, exceeds Boeing's goal of delivering 280 planes. Airbus' order backlog stands at 1,500 planes vs. 1,100 aircraft for Boeing, indicating the plane maker will continue to deliver more aircraft per year in coming years.
Airbus "may have more deliveries, but what does that mean?" asked Tom Brabant, a Boeing spokesman. "In an industry that has two large manufacturers, if you're looking at deliveries, some years Airbus may deliver more, some years Boeing may deliver more. What matters most is making airplanes that passengers prefer to fly on and providing value to our airline customers."
Separately yesterday, Boeing received a firm order from Korean Air for nine 777-200ER aircraft worth about $1.5 billion.
Korean Air, Asia's fifth-largest carrier by sales, said the purchase will increase the number of 777s it operates to 22, making the twin-aisle plane its main aircraft for long-distance routes. The 777-200ERs have a list price of $160.5 million to $182 million each and can carry between 305 and 400 passengers.
Korean Air first reached a preliminary agreement to buy the 777s in June. The Seoul-based airline hasn't decided how it will finance the purchase. The first airplanes will be delivered in June 2005, the airline said.
Korean Air in October also agreed to buy five 550-seater Airbus A380s for $1.4 billion with an option to buy three more. It has 117 planes in its fleet
With 300th delivery, Airbus beats Boeing
By Bloomberg News
Airbus delivered its 300th aircraft for 2003 and plans "a few more" deliveries before Dec. 31, meaning the company will beat its target for the year and overtake Boeing as the world's biggest plane maker, Chief Executive Noël Forgeard said.
The goal was reached Friday evening when Airbus turned over Singapore Airlines' first A340-500 long-haul plane, Forgeard said in an interview at his Toulouse, France, headquarters.
This year's target of 300 deliveries by Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space, exceeds Boeing's goal of delivering 280 planes. Airbus' order backlog stands at 1,500 planes vs. 1,100 aircraft for Boeing, indicating the plane maker will continue to deliver more aircraft per year in coming years.
Airbus "may have more deliveries, but what does that mean?" asked Tom Brabant, a Boeing spokesman. "In an industry that has two large manufacturers, if you're looking at deliveries, some years Airbus may deliver more, some years Boeing may deliver more. What matters most is making airplanes that passengers prefer to fly on and providing value to our airline customers."
Separately yesterday, Boeing received a firm order from Korean Air for nine 777-200ER aircraft worth about $1.5 billion.
Korean Air, Asia's fifth-largest carrier by sales, said the purchase will increase the number of 777s it operates to 22, making the twin-aisle plane its main aircraft for long-distance routes. The 777-200ERs have a list price of $160.5 million to $182 million each and can carry between 305 and 400 passengers.
Korean Air first reached a preliminary agreement to buy the 777s in June. The Seoul-based airline hasn't decided how it will finance the purchase. The first airplanes will be delivered in June 2005, the airline said.
Korean Air in October also agreed to buy five 550-seater Airbus A380s for $1.4 billion with an option to buy three more. It has 117 planes in its fleet