Logs 1,341 Net Orders; Delivered More Planes Than Boeing

European planemaker Airbus may lay claim to the best sales year in its history for 2007... but the company did not set the all-time record for annual sales, ceding that accomplishment to its American rival.

Airbus announced Wednesday it collected 1,341 net orders for the year, a solid 292 more planes that its previous all-time best in 2005. Despite that accomplishment, however, Airbus did not claim the overall sales crown... as Boeing revealed a staggering 1,413 net orders for the year now past.

The EADS-owned planemaker can take comfort in retaining the title of world's largest planemaker, based on deliveries. Airbus delivered 453 aircraft for the year, compared to 441 for Boeing. Each planemaker delivered more aircraft in 2007 than in 2006.

In even better news for Airbus' bottom line, Airbus also announced it hit its internal cost-savings targets -- a significant item, as the planemaker struggles to recover from the wave of program delays and cost overruns that led to the implementation of a drastic restructuring effort, dubbed "Power8," in late 2006.

"2007 was a challenging but also successful year for Airbus," said Airbus CEO Thomas Enders. "2008 will be as challenging on all fronts."

Airbus says its sales total includes orders for its upcoming A330 Freighter, reports The Associated Press. Somewhat curiously, the planemaker also said it collected 292 net orders for its upcoming, and delay-plagued, A350 XWB in 2007... though not all those orders were counted in the 2007 tally.

At list prices, the orders amount to some $157.1 billion in new revenue for Airbus, though big discounts are likely.

As does Boeing, Airbus says it expects sales to slow drastically for 2008... but the planemaker predicts it will still sell more aircraft on the year than it will build. Airbus projects 470 new aircraft deliveries over the coming year.

FMI: www.airbus.com