Record year at Airbus for orders, deliveries as duopoly with Boeing enjoys growing demand

TOULOUSE, France – Airbus delivered 626 airplanes last year, a record for the European aerospace giant — if short of the number compiled by U.S. archrival Boeing Co.

The manufacturer says 493 of its orders were for single-aisle planes in its A320 series. Gross orders in 2013 swelled to an industry-record 1,619 aircraft, worth over $240 billion.

Airbus detailed the figures on Monday amid a boom time for plane makers, driven by rising demand in Asia and Latin America and for more fuel-efficient planes amid high oil prices.

Boeing said last week it delivered 648 planes in 2013.

Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, is set this year to transfer its military aircraft business to another segment of the new Airbus Group — its parent, formerly known as aerospace and defense giant EADS.