By Max Kingsley-Jones in London
A strong order intake during the first half of the year has vaulted Boeing ahead of its European rival in backlog terms for the first time since the start of the decade. However, Airbus remains the lead producer of commercial aircraft.
The overall order backlog has increased by a 4% since the end of 2005, but Airbus's high production rate combined with a poor first-half sales performance - it secured just 97 orders net of changes - has seen its unfilled order tally decline by 5% to 2,055 aircraft. Boeing's 480 net orders has pushed its backlog up by over 15% to 2,094, giving it a slim but significant lead in the backlog battle for the first time since 2000.
Airbus's order performance traditionally improves in the second half of the year - it was way behind its rival at the mid-point of 2005, but finished the year in front. In May at the ILA Berlin air show, Airbus forecast that its order intake would match the 420-430 deliveries it will make this year. "Airbus isn't going to stay this low, we think they'll come up with some more orders," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice-president marketing Randy Baseler.
However, the European manufacturer's first-half performance in 2006 has been significantly worse than in recent years, partly due to the fact that orders for its A350 model have dried up in the wake of the confusion over the manufacturer's plans for the new aircraft.
Output at Airbus's plants is running at record levels, with the manufacturer delivering 219 aircraft during the first six months - up 16% on last year's period. Boeing shipments have seen an even greater growth, increasing by a quarter on the same period last year to 195 aircraft.
Overall, the two manufacturers' deliveries have grown by a fifth to 414 aircraft, putting them on course to produce around 830 aircraft for the full year. Although Airbus will remain ahead this year and probably next, Baseler predicts Boeing will be the lead producer by 2008.
Source: Flight International
