Airbus overtakes Boeing, could halt A380 output

Paris, January 15

European aerospace giant Airbus overtook arch-rival Boeing in terms of aircraft orders last year, but warned that it could cease making its A380 jet if it does not receive any more orders for the supersize plane.

Airbus said it booked 1,109 aircraft orders and a record 718 deliveries in 2017. US rival Boeing booked 912 orders and 763 deliveries.

Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier said overall deliveries could rise to 800 this year, given the increased pace of production of its A320neo aircraft.

“We are going to double the number of A320neos” delivered this year, Bregier said. “If we do that, we will be close to 800 deliveries in 2018.”

Turning to the A380, sales director John Leah warned that Airbus would have no choice but to halt the programme if Dubai’s Emirates airline — the main customer for the superjumbo launched in 2007 — did not place another order.

“We are talking to Emirates, but honestly, they are probably the only one to have the ability right now on the market place to take a minimum of six per year on a period of eight to 10 years,” Leahy said. — AFP