With 476 new firm orders valued at US $ 30.5 billion, 1999 was the second best year ever in terms of order intake for Airbus Industrie. With 55 percent of all orders announced for the year, this gives the European consortium its best ever market share.
Airbus Industrie only counts orders for which a firm contract has been signed, a down-payment was made, and, where required, government approval obtained. These orders include 408 A320 Family airliners, giving Airbus Industrie 58 percent of all orders placed in the 100ñ200 seat category, and 68 long range A330/A340s. This Family hereby won a 75 percent share against its direct competitor. In addition to the 476 firm orders, Airbus Industrie has obtained 103 firm commitments.
Furthermore, in 1999, Airbus Industrie delivered, as planned, 294 aircraft, including 222 single-aisle and 72 widebody and long range airliners, giving the consortium a turnover of US $ 16.7 billion, its highest ever.
This brings the total number of delivered Airbus aircraft to 2,188, valued at US $ 120.8 billion, with an outstanding backlog of undelivered aircraft reaching 1,445, valued at some US $ 100.1 billion, and representing more than four full years of production at increasing production rates. In the past five years since the end of 1994 the backlog was more than doubled.
Commenting on these results, Airbus Industrie Chief Executive Officer NoÎl Forgeard highlighted their significance both for the consortium and the products themselves. "With a 55 percent market share in 1999, after almost 50 percent in 1998, Airbus Industrie has confirmed that it is now established on a par with its competitor", he said.
"What is even more important to us, is that these results have been achieved while simultaneously significantly improving our margins", he added. "Over the past two years, Airbus has really increased the creation of value for its shareholders. This gives us great confidence that we shall maintain this position in the long term, and simultaneously satisfy our customers and bring growing value to our shareholders".
In 1999, Airbus Industrie also enlarged its product range with the very successful launch of the 107-seat A318, which completes the Airbus Single-Aisle Family at the lower end, enabling the consortium to establish itself in this new market segment. Considerable progress was also achieved on the all new 555-seat A3XX airliner, for which Airbus Industrie will begin approaching interested airlines to get a clear indication about their commitment to the project in the first half of this year.
At the end of December 1999, Airbus Industrie had delivered a total of 2,188 airliners, valued at US $ 120.8 billion. Of these, 1,142 were A320 Family aircraft. The total number of orders obtained so far by the consortium reaches 3,633 and is valued at US $ 222.8 billion.
