US aerospace group Boeing left European rival Airbus in its slipstream when booking new plane orders in the first half of the year, figures released Friday by Airbus showed.

Boeing had reported a net 499 new orders between January 1 and June 30, including 54 cancellations.

Airbus meanwhile suffered 225 cancellations, limiting it to 290 net aircraft orders in the six-month period.

Boeing was slightly ahead in terms of deliveries as well, with 342 new planes flown to clients, compared with 303 for Airbus.

The two groups dominate the global market for passenger airliners and their orders give a good idea of how the civil aviation sector is faring.

In May, Airbus commercial chief John Leahy had forecast that Airbus and Boeing would finish the year neck-and-neck.

He told media at the ILA Berlin Air Show: “I think we’ll end up this year even, maybe Airbus even slightly ahead.”

SOURCE AFP