In a rivalry that is as intense as the Army-Navy game or Harvard vs Yale, Airbus and Boeing crossed the year-end finish line nearly tied for new-plane deliveries, with Boeing’s nose just a bit ahead.
Not that everyone was holding their breaths.
The final count for Boeing was 806, with Airbus in at 800. Both companies indicated they could have made a few more, if only, if only.
But with worldwide demand strong, both sold more planes last year than they built, meaning that both have long and comfortable backlogs, especially for popular newer models. Airbus’s sales total was 747, down from 1,109 the year before, while Boeing rang up 893 sales.
