Airbus becomes largest planemaker with 863 jet deliveries in 2019

Airbus has become the world’s largest planemaker for the first time since 2011.

Airbus delivers a forecast-beating 863 aircraft in 2019.

It seizes the crown from embattled U.S. rival Boeing, airport and tracking.

A reversal in the pecking order between the two giants had been expected as a crisis over Boeing’s grounded 737 MAX drags into 2020.

But, the record European data further underscores the distance Boeing must travel to recoup its market position.

Airbus deployed extra resources until hours before midnight to reach 863 aircraft for the year.

Airbus forced by its own industrial problems to cut its 2019 delivery goal by 2-3% in October.

Deliveries rose 7.9 % from 800 aircraft in 2018.

Airbus declined to comment on the figures, which must be audited before they can be finalized and published.

Planemakers receive most of their revenues when aircraft delivered.

So, the end-year delivery performance is closely monitored by investors.

Airbus’s tally broke industry records after it diverted thousands of workers.

It also canceled holidays to complete a buffer stock of semi-finished aircraft waiting to have their cabins adjusted.

Airbus’s tally included around 640 single-aisle aircraft.

Airbus hit by delays in fitting the complex new layouts on A321neo jets assembled in Hamburg, Germany.

Boeing delivered 345 mainly long-haul jets between January and November.

For the whole of 2018, Boeing had delivered 806 aircraft.

Airbus production plants traditionally halt over Christmas and New Year.

But, the company’s delivery centers and completion facilities were humming well into the afternoon of New Year’s Eve to allow Asian and other airlines to fly away new jets.

Emirates announced $16 billion order for 50 Airbus A350 planes

Earlier, Dubai state-owned airline Emirates had placed a firm order for 50 Airbus A350 jets worth $16 billion at list prices.

The deal signed at the show marked a final and amended version of a tentative deal for 40 A330neo aircraft and 30 A350 jets.

It has been pending since the start of the year.

The world’s top jetmakers tried to win final approval for more than $30 billion in orders from Emirates.