Airbus raises 2010 order target to more than 400 jets

Airbus SAS, the world's largest maker of commercial aircraft, raised its order target for this year to more than 400 jets, as leasing companies return to the market and global travel rebounds.

Toulouse-based Airbus won firm orders for 133 aircraft valued at more than $13 billion, and commitments for another 122 jets, bringing the total value of accords at the Farnborough Air Show to $28 billion, the company said at the show today.

"This was a good air show for us and good for the industry" Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said at a briefing. "We signed more contracts than we anticipated."

Sales Chief John Leahy said "the recession is definitely over" as global traffic routes fill up and leasing companies resume purchases. Aircraft lessors accounted for the bulk of firm deals at Farnborough, with Air Lease Corp. CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy buying 51 Airbus single-aisle jets. Airbus leapfrogged Boeing Co. in 2003 as the largest jet manufacturer.

Boeing said at the show that it raised its internal order forecast "significantly" for this year from what the Chicago-based company had predicted at the start of 2010. The company has lifted the prediction twice this year so far.

Airbus had previously targeted as many as 300 orders for 2010, and Leahy said last week he aimed to double the number of orders pulled in so far this year during the show.

Enders said the company will achieve its production target of more than 20 A380 superjumbos this year, and that Airbus aims to sign up one more customer for the jet in 2010. The aircraft is operated by five airlines to date, including Air France KLM Group and Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Emirates is the largest buyer of the plane, with 90 in total on order.