Airbus beats Boeing for aircraft orders

Airbus announced a record number of jet orders for 2005, unexpectedly beating Boeing’s tally for a fifth straight year. But the European plane maker fell behind its rival on order value as sales of its larger planes failed to keep pace. Airbus announced a review of its long-range A340 airliner in the wake of disappointing orders.

Toulouse, France-based Airbus unveiled a total of 1,055 net orders yesterday, trouncing its US rival’s 1,002, and said it delivered 378 airliners last year to Boeing’s 290. Gross orders – which do not take account of cancellations – came to 1,111, the largest number ever booked either side of the Atlantic.