Airbus Deliveries at 253; 430 Targeted for 2006

Airbus said it had made 253 deliveries this year and taken 200 orders, boosted by strong interest at the Farnborough air show in Britain.

The figures mean the troubled European plane maker is on track to deliver more aircraft in 2006 than rival Boeing Co. But Airbus is still expected to see its full-year orders lag behind those of the U.S. company -- for the first time in six years.

Airbus has targeted 430 plane deliveries this year, up from 378 in 2005.

Airbus said it delivered 34 planes in July and took orders for 83 more. Most of those deals came last month at the Farnborough show, where total Airbus orders or commitments reached 182 aircraft valued at $21.5 billion. Boeing booked 75 orders and commitments, worth an estimated $9.65 billion.