Chicago – Boeing Co. reported a record 1,044 commercial airplane orders for 2006 Thursday, all but formally regaining the lead from troubled Airbus in the important sales category amid strong demand for its fuel- conscious 787 Dreamliner and single-aisle 737.
Boeing remained runner-up to Airbus for a fourth straight year in aircraft deliveries, the category that determines the world’s No. 1 plane manufacturer. It reported 398 deliveries, up 37 percent but short of the 425 projected recently by its European rival.
Still, the Chicago-based company’s revived prospects, coupled with Airbus’ missteps with aircraft delays and management discord, appear to virtually ensure its return to the top of the commercial jet-making business by 2008, according to aerospace analysts.
“It was really the year when Boeing came into its own and Airbus essentially went through a meltdown,” said Phil Finnegan of the Teal Group. “You’ve got the combination of Boeing with a good, hot new product and Airbus fumbling with technical problems and other issues that no one could have expected.”
