Thaindian News

Berlin, Jan 18 (IANS) With a smart market strategy and key innovations, European aircraft conglomerate Airbus witnessed record orders and deliveries last year, the company has said.

The company said at a press conference in Hamburg that it delivered 534 commercial aircraft to 88 customers last year, beating the 2010 record by 24 aircraft and keeping the title of the world’s largest jet maker.

December was a record month for the A-380, the world’s largest commercial aircraft, with four deliveries in a single month, the company added.

Airbus also took a record order intake of 1,608 commercial aircraft last year worth $169 billion at list prices, breaking the 2007 record of 1,458 orders.

The new orders include 1,348 A-320 family aircraft, of which the A-320neo, the improved version of the popular single-aisle plane, accounted for 1,226 firm sales, making the new type as “the fastest selling airliner ever” for the company.

With a newly-designed engine, the A-320neo is able to deliver a 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption along with lower operating costs, less noise and emissions, the company said.

To meet the strong demands from the global market, Airbus hired 4,500 new employees in 2011, increasing the active workforce to 55,000. The company said it would target more than 4,000 this year.

“Airbus’ record order intake is the result of our strategic decision for A320neo. With this innovation we established a new industry standard, appreciated by our customers and followed by the competition,” Tom Enders, Airbus’ President and CEO said in a statement.

“With a solid backlog and an excellent cash position, we are well prepared for the future,” he added.