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Boeing beats records to outstrip rival Airbus

Record deliveries and orders were achieved by Boeing in 2013, putting it on track to become the world’s largest aicraft maker for a second consecutive year.


The US manufacturer delivered 648 commercial aircraft last year and had a backlog of 5,080 unfulfilled orders – both company records.


The figures mean it is likely to have beaten rival Airbus which will reveal its 2013 orders on January 13.


Boeing said three of its programmes had set individual records for delivery: its next generation 737 of which it delivered 440 in 2013, its long-haul 777 of which it delivered 98, and its 787 Dreamliners of which it delivered 65.


Overall, Boeing booked a record 1,531 gross commercial orders for the year, with 1,355 net commercial orders, the second-largest in its history.


The record deliveries come despite a series of problems with the Dreamliner last year, which meant deliveries were halted for four months.


Of the 65 Dreamliners built last year, 25 were delivered in the final three months of 2013.


Boeing Commercial president and chief executive Ray Conner said all three of its US-based commercial aircraft factories had delivered a record number of planes.


“The Boeing team performed extremely well in 2013,” he added.

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