Airbus lost the annual battle for plane orders to Boeing Co. for the first time in six years on Wednesday, posting 790 net orders for 2006 versus its rival’s 1,044.
Airbus said it had stayed ahead of the U.S. firm in planes delivered, with 434 aircraft versus 398 deliveries by Boeing.
Louis Gallois, co-Chief Executive of parent firm EADS and head of Airbus, said Airbus expected to deliver 440 to 450 planes this year.
