European Aircraft Industry: Airbus tops rival Boeing for orders

A350 in flight

Airbus is leading the way in the skies over rival Boeing. Orders have taken off for the European company putting it ahead of the US planemaker after an unprecedented surge saw it book 468 orders for the month of December.

The company’s shares, which in December suffered their worst one-day plunge in more than six years after a prediction of flat profits, were up 0.3 percent.

Airbus clung to the top spot with 1,456 orders to Boeing’s 1,432. But the US manufacturer retains its place as the world’s largest plane maker for the third year running as it outstripped Airbus for deliveries with 723 compared to 629 from Airbus.

It is a highly competitive battle between the two companies. New orders are at the heart of the most critical element of all – future market share. At year end Airbus commanded over 50 percent market share for aircraft with more than 110 seats.

Last month the company made its first delivery of the new A350 to Qatar Airways. The jet is seen as crucial in its bid to retain top spot.

Antoine Juillard of euronews talked with Fabrice Bregier the Chief Executive of Airbus and asked him what the company’s ambitions are for the aircraft.

Fabrice Bregier: “We launched this new plane, which has been manufactured with many composite materials including the entire fuselage and the wings to make it lighter and so use less fuel. Since 2007 it’s been eight years of effort to deliver the first A350 to Qatar Airlines and now we are up and running.

Read more: Airbus tops rival Boeing for orders | euronews, economy