Detailled analysis of Airbus' and Boeing's deliveries, orderbook and new orders from January to December 2006
Airbus still leads the sector for deliveries, but it trails Boeing for new orders in 2006. How do the compare in 2006 ? What are they leading programmes ? How do they compare in the market, what are their strengths and weaknesses ?How did they change from 2005 ? What does it implies for their future performance ?
Airbus’ error in the course of the A350 launch left Boeing free to dominate the order intake and order backlog for widebodies in 2006. The two manufacturers were practically level in narrowbodies, with Airbus only slightly ahead. The B747-8 had a very good year with 60 orders (plus 12 orders for earlier B747 versions), whereas the A380 was at the heart of Airbus’ difficulties.
Airbus’ limited exposure to the North American market continues to be a persistent weakness but is counterbalanced by Airbus’ strong market positioning with the aircraft leasers. However, orders from the latter were cut noticeably, foreshadowing reduced deliveries for them starting in 2008.
Airbus is now best established in India, where it accounts for 69% of the order backlog. But this is also the riskiest region in terms of airline balance sheets.
Overall, Airbus still leads in terms of deliveries, with 52% of the market. But it accounted for only 44% of the order intake and now holds only 51% of the order backlog (55% at year-end 2005).

2006 Summary
First visible signs of a deterioration in Airbus’ position
Deliveries: advantage to Airbus in 2006, particularly in growth regions
Orders: Boeing easily ahead of Airbus
Order backlog: Boeing is just behind Airbus
Deliveries by product family
Order intake by product family
Order backlog by product family
A320/B737 order book: Airbus holds on to its lead
A350/B787 order book: Boeing’s complete domination

Airbus at year-end 2006
Summary – its weaknesses still apparent, just like its strengths
Deliveries by aircraft type and geographic region
Airbus aircraft delivered by leasers, by aircraft type and by geographic region
Direct Airbus deliveries + leasers by geographic region
Orders by aircraft type and geographic region
Order backlog by type of aircraft and by geographic region
Airbus’ main delivery customers
Airbus’ main order-intake customers
Airbus’ main order-backlog customers

Boeing at year-end 2006
Summary –a commercial success almost across the board
Deliveries by aircraft type and geographic region
Orders by aircraft type and geographic region
Order backlog by aircraft type and geographic region
Boeing’s main delivery customers
Boeing’s main order intake customers
Boeing’s main order backlog customers