Airbus beats 2005 order record

PARIS: Airbus confirmed 2007 as a record year for new orders on Monday, with 1,204 sold between the start of January and the end of November.   

The European planemaker, owned by EADS, announced a number of big orders at the Dubai airshow in mid-November, putting it on track to beat its 2005 record for new sales.   

The announced order figures are gross, before adjustments for cancellations.   

In 2005, Airbus posted gross new orders of 1,111 aircraft and net new orders of 1,055 planes.   

Airbus has so far in 2007 delivered 410 aircraft up to the end of November. It targets 440-450 full-year deliveries.   

The record haul of orders contrasts with the planemaker's financial woes linked to industrial delays and the plunge in the value of the dollar.   

Calling the dollar's slide a matter of survival for Airbus, EADS wants to transfer jobs to the dollar zone to protect against currency swings. But the French government says it will resist the move.