AIRCRAFT manufacturer Airbus says it has won 125 net orders up to the end of August this year, stretching a lead over its US rival Boeing.
Airbus, which makes wings for jetliners at its factory at Broughton, near Chester, has received 147 orders for new aircraft during the eight months and was notified of 22 cancellations.
It has delivered 320 planes, including five A380 superjumbos and 262 of the smaller A320 jets, since the start of the year and says it is on target to deliver 480 for the full year.
Boeing has booked orders for 161 planes, but with 91 cancellations including 73 787 Dreamliners, its latest jet currently under development, leaving the net order intake at 70 jets. It has delivered 307 jets so far this year.
The world's airline industry has been hit hard by a downturn in global aviation leading to some orders for planes being deferred and others cancelled.
Airbus as been partially cushioned by a backlog of around 3,500 aircraft, equivalent to seven years of production.
