Boeing announces record 2006 jet orders

Chicago: Boeing Co. reported a record 1,044 commercial airplane orders for 2006 Thursday, all but formally regaining the lead from troubled Airbus in the important sales category amid strong demand for its fuel-conscious 787 Dreamliner and single-aisle 737.
Boeing remained runner-up to Airbus for a fourth straight year in aircraft deliveries, the category that determines the world's No. 1 plane manufacturer. It reported 398 deliveries, up 37 percent but short of the 425 projected recently by its European rival, which announces year-end totals Jan. 17.
Boeing surpassed the previous year's total of 1,002 net orders and came up just shy of Airbus' all-time industry record of 1,055 last year. Its gross orders, which do not account for cancellations and conversions, totaled 1,050.
In the last 10 days of 2006 alone, there were orders for more than 100 planes from Korean Air, Xiamen Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Berlin, Delta Airlines and other unidentified customers.
Boeing recorded 157 orders last year for the 787, which is due to enter service in mid-2008 after test flights beginning later this year, and a record 729 for its stalwart 737. It also had 76 orders for 777s, 10 for 767s and 72 for 747s, the highest total for that program since 1990. Eighty-one of the ordered airplanes were freighters.
04/01/07 Dave Carpenter/AP/ SanLuisObispo.com, US

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