Airbus beat Boeing on the line in the battle orders for new planes in 2010, Airbus crossing the symbolic passing of the 10,000 sales with a five-billion dollars spent by the company of Richard Branson, Virgin.
An avalanche of orders received at the last minute allowed the 100% subsidiary of EADS exceed its eternal rival American at the very end of the year, maintaining its number one spot for the third consecutive year in net.
Airbus, which gives its trade performance to a strong market recovery in emerging markets and in the segment of low-cost airline, has reported 644 orders for the last year, totaling more than $ 84 billion ( 63.4 billion euros) at list prices, against 625 units for Boeing. In late November 2010, Airbus was still lagging behind Boeing in the matter.The single month of December was marked by 200 orders for the European manufacturer.
"These figures show that the economic situation is improving. We avoided the specter of a new dive into recession. The civil aviation market has regained growth through Asia, with low cost carriers and emerging markets, "said John Leahy told reporters, commercial director of Airbus. He added: "Oil prices are the only negative point on the horizon."
The figure for 2010 reflects a firm order for 60 A320s at Virgin America, including Richard Branson owns a minority, low-cost airline based in California becoming the first confirmed client version A320NEO supposed to generate fuel savings 15%.
The transaction was finalized at the end of last month and is recorded in the 2010 data.But Airbus and Virgin have preferred to wait for the annual conference of the manufacturer to announce, both symbolically to mark the thousandth order and to put the company on the front of the stage.
Record number of deliveries
Airbus announced last week an order of magnitude potentially historic placed by the Indian airline IndiGo, including on A320neo 150, but the contract has not yet been finalized.
Adjusted for cancellations, total new orders for Airbus aircraft to 574 spring, weighing a total of $ 74 billion (again based on list prices) against 530 for Boeing, which gives the manufacturer a European market share 52% make quick cash.
The two world leaders in civil aviation is currently surfing on a strong wave of orders initiated by the global economic recovery and amplified by the high oil prices, which encourages companies to develop faster than expected new aircraft consume less fuel .
For the eighth consecutive year, Airbus delivered more planes than Boeing in 2010, also crossed the milestone of 500 units for the first time in its history.
Airbus delivered 510 aircraft last year, against 498 last year, nearly 50 aircraft of more than 462 units delivered by Boeing, a figure down 4% compared to 481 by 2009.
Airbus chief Tom Enders said that the total number of deliveries would be increased to 520-530 aircraft this year, adding that total orders for 2011 should be higher than supply, without giving more objective accurate."The year 2010 was above our expectations. We will have a more optimistic assessment of 2011, "he said. Airbus recorded a turnover of "some 30 billion" last year, against 28.067 billion in 2009, sued Tom Enders.
Up to 3,000 hires in 2011
Aircraft manufacturers receive most of the prices of their equipment at the time of delivery, which generally occurs 18 months after taking command, or even later.
The president also said Airbus consider raising the production target to 10 A330/A340 aircraft a month. The demand for the A330 has been boosted by the delay in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, whose first delivery should be delayed again after an electrical fire occurred on board an aircraft during a flight from test.
The European manufacturer Airbus could hire up to 3,000 people in 2011 in Europe, half in France, to meet increased production rates and ensure the development of new programs, said Monday its leaders . "Given the attrition, which represent about 1,500 people a year, we could achieve a workforce of 54,000 employees at the end of the year," said Thierry Baril, Human Resources Director (HRD) Airbus, in conjunction with the annual conference of trade balance of Airbus in Toulouse.