DHAKA: European aircraft maker Airbus beat US rival Boeing with record sales and orders last year but came second in terms of finished airliners delivered.

Figures from the company showed on Monday, reports The Straits Times.

Airbus said that in 2013 it took 1,503 net orders, allowing for cancellations.

This compares with 1,355 orders taken by Boeing. Total orders are taken by Airbus is a record for the whole industry.

Airbus also said that at the end of last year it had record orders to build 5,559 aircraft, equivalent to eight years of production.

Results published by Boeing on January 6 showed that the US firm had a total order book for 5,080 aircraft.

However, last year Airbus delivered 626 planes, far behind Boeing which delivered 648 aircraft.

BDST: 1901 HRS, JAN 13, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor