Call It: Airbus Will Regain Sales Title After 2007 Reprieve

Unlike in years past, there apparently will not be any nail-biting finale to the 2008 commercial aircraft sales race between Boeing and Airbus... as the European planemaker has a commanding lead over its American rival.

Airbus announced Monday it delivered 46 planes, and booked firm orders for 84 more during November. That brings its year-to-date totals to 437 deliveries and 878 firm orders through November. Adjusted for 122 cancellations -- about half of which involved bankrupt Skybus Airlines -- Airbus now sits at 756 net orders year-to-date, versus 640 for Boeing.

The Wall Street Journal reports Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, counted one more doubledecker A380 super jumbo among its November deliveries, along with six wide-body A330s and 39 single-aisle A320 family planes. The company's official guidance is still calling for delivery of roughly 470 planes this year.

New Airbus orders announced in November included one from Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi for 20 A320s, six A380s and 25 A350-1000s still under development.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders says he expects his company to finish 2008 with at least 850 new orders. That would require signing at least 94 firm orders and receiving no more cancellations during December.

Earlier this year, Boeing claimed 1,413 net orders for 2007, surpassing Airbus' sales total of 1,341 orders to recapture the overall sales crown.

FMI: www.airbus.com