Boeing expects the start of 787 deliveries, combined with a recovery of the US domestic market in around three years, to enable it to usurp Airbus’s “temporary” dominance in airliner shipments.
Airbus took the lead in airliner deliveries in 2003, and held the advantage last year. Based on the two manufacturers’ current projections, Airbus will retain its lead this year.
“We should overtake Airbus in two to three years from now,” says Boeing vice-president marketing Randy Baseler, who adds that 787 deliveries will start in 2008 and “by then 737 deliveries will overtake the A320 family”.
He adds: “The US domestic carriers should start to get more healthy in two or three years time, and they have a large backlog of 737 orders.”
Source: Flight International
