Airbus is sanguine about the prospect of being overhauled by its US rival after at least eight straight years of being the world's top producer of airliners.
After generations of US dominance in civil aircraft production, Airbus took the crown from Boeing in 2003 when it delivered 305 aircraft - 24 more than its rival. This situation is set to continue through 2010, and perhaps 2011, although Boeing has been clear on its intent to return to the top.
At last month's Farnborough air show, Boeing chief executive Jim McNerney predicted that the US manufacturer is set to become the dominant producer of widebodies as shipments of the 787 ramp up and he expects to match Airbus on single-aisle output, which would put it ahead in total production.
"What's the problem with that?" asks Airbus chief executive Tom Enders. "You always expect to be number one and we've had a good run, but it has a lot to do with the phasing-out of old aircraft and phasing-in of new ones. As long as we are somewhere around 50% share."
Airbus set a new personal output record in 2009, delivering 498 aircraft against 481 for its rival. It expects to be in a similar ball park this year, while Boeing's shipments will drop slightly to 460-465 aircraft. However, from 2011, Airbus could begin to come under pressure from Seattle, while from 2012 the US airframer should see rates increase further as 747-8 production begins in earnest and 787 output heads towards 10 a month when the second assembly plant in Charleston, South Carolina comes on line.
Despite Boeing's clear production intent, Airbus's chief salesman John Leahy says that "personally" he is not resigned to the fact that the European airframer will be pushed into second place: "With all this demand, we're looking at perhaps a rate increase on single-aisle, and even on widebodies."
Source: Flight International
