AIRBUS, with 300 aircraft, won more orders than Boeing last year but is still substantially down on the 486 in 2000 and 384 for 2001. No”l Forgeard, the chief executive, has forecast that Airbus would also actually deliver more aircraft than Boeing for the first time ever in 2003. He also implied that the discount given to easyJet for a massive A319 order was minimal, somewhat the opposite of Ray Webster, easyJet chief executive, who said ”we have achieved a tremendous deal.” Certainly the sale of the century, so far, but who is to be believed? Take 120 orders from Airbus and add them to Boeing and the importance of the sale can be seen. M Forgeard said that a target of 300 deliveries was achievable this year "if the environment stays stable." In announcing their figures Boeing confirmed it cut production last year from 527 to 381 aircraft and has forecast its deliveries this year at 275 to 285. The US group won 251 new orders in 2002, down from 328 in 2001 and 600 in 2000. The Airbus numbers are 374 in 2001 and 486 in 2000.
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