Airbus Record Order Intake for 2011 Beats Boeing on A320neo

Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, the world’s biggest planemaker, extended its lead over U.S. rival Boeing Co., with 11-month orders already topping its annual record following the introduction of the A320neo.

Carriers placed 1,378 aircraft orders through November after subtracting cancellations, the Toulouse, France-based company said on its web site. That includes more than 1,200 firm orders for A320neos, which offer more fuel-efficient engines than the existing A320 series. Boeing’s tally stands at 518 planes in the first 11 months.

Airbus has topped Boeing’s deliveries every year since 2003. While aircraft makers get the majority of payment upon delivery, new orders carry a pre-payments of about 5 percent, boosting cash and providing capital for investing in n Boeing is lagging on orders partly because the Chicago-based company hasn’t yet begun taking firm orders for its 737 MAX, a version of the 737 that will offer new engines and being service in 2017, two years after Airbus’s A320neo.

Boeing decided to offer the MAX, which will carry more fuel-efficient engines from CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Safran SA, to fend off the A320neo and help capture half of a $2 trillion market in the next 20 years.

The unit of European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. delivered 477 planes through November, including 371 single- aisle aircraft, 78 widebody planes, and 22 double-decker A380 jets. Airbus incurred 143 cancelations. Boeing delivered 387 planes through October, according to its web site.

Boeing says it has won 700 commitments from nine customers for the MAX though will only accept firm orders when the performance guarantees and pricing of the promised plane have been set. Jim Albaugh, chief executive of Boeing’s commercial jet division, said Nov. 13 that discussions on pricing and performance may be wrapped up before yearend.

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