US aerospace giant Boeing trailed European arch-rival Airbus in jetliner orders and deliveries in the first three months of the year, according to company data released Thursday.

Boeing, which last year wrested back the title as the world’s largest aircraft maker from Airbus, reported 209 net orders for its commercial aircraft in the first quarter.

France-based Airbus posted nearly double that amount — 410 net orders — boosted by a massive 234-plane order from Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air in late March.

Of Boeing’s 209 orders, 153 were for its single-aisle 737, the industry’s best-selling plane.

There were 42 orders for Boeing’s problem-plagued 787 Dreamliner, all from American Airlines.

The cutting-edge 787 has been grounded worldwide since January 16 after overheated lithium-ion batteries sparked a fire on a Japanese Airlines plane parked at a Boston airport and forced an All Nippon Airways into an emergency landing in Japan.

In aircraft deliveries, the race between the world’s two biggest commercial aircraft manufacturers was much closer.

Boeing delivered 137 planes, including one 787 to Air India before the plane was grounded.

The company continues to produce 787s at the rate of five per month as it awaits regulatory approval for it to fly again.

Airbus delivered 144 aircraft.

Competition between the two companies, which hold a duopoly in the large commercial aircraft market, is fierce.

Boeing reclaimed the crown from Airbus in 2012 after a decade as the underdog, posting 1,203 orders and 601 deliveries. Airbus had 833 orders and 588 deliveries.

SOURCE AFP