Airbus (IW 1000/47) said Tuesday it beat Boeing with 1,456 net orders last year, but despite handing over a record 629 planes to airlines in 2014 it is still trailing its U.S. rival in deliveries of commercial passenger jets.
The European aerospace company said in a statement that the results "exceeded its targets for 2014" and that at the end of last year it "commanded more than 50% market share for aircraft above 100 seats".
Airbus said its second-best year ever for new orders propelled it to an industry record backlog of 6,386 aircraft valued at $919.3 billion at list prices.
Boeing (IW 500/13), which announced its sales and delivery figures last week, had been leading in the orders category throughout the year, but as frequently happens Airbus announced a number of deals in December.
Boeing had dominated this segment of midsize long-haul aircraft, with its 787 Dreamliner having won over 1,000 orders.
Airbus expects this segment will see demand over the next two decades of 7,800 planes worth around $1 trillion.
This year is also an important one for Airbus for the development of new aircraft.
Much of the company's increase in orders has been for an upgraded model of its A320 aircraft that features new engines and wing modifications that should provide 20% fuel savings.
Airbus hopes to have A320neo certified in the third quarter and begin delivering the plane to clients before the end of the year.
Cheap Oil 'Always Good'
With fuel one of their largest expenses, airlines have been placing many orders for fuel-efficient aircraft in order to ensure they remain competitive in an industry with tight margins.
But the price of oil has more than halved in the past six months to under $50 a barrel.
Airbus executives said they were not concerned.
A "lower price of oil is always good for airlines," said John Leahy, Airbus's chief operating officer for customers.
"Airlines who get more money tend to buy more aircraft."
The Toulouse-based manufacturer also announced Tuesday a longer-range version of its A320 aircraft that it says will able to make transatlantic flights after having received a preliminary order of 30 of the planes from Air Lease Corporation (ALC).
The A321neo that is scheduled to enter service in 2019 will have a maximum range of 4,000 miles, slightly more than the single aisle Boeing 757 that is no longer in production.
Several airlines have used the Boeing 757 for transatlantic routes, but in the event of strong headwinds the aircraft would need to put down to refuel.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015
