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   Airbus is on track to become the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world   
   for the first time in eight years, as was revealed today by the presentation   
   of quarterly figures. The European aircraft manufacturer benefits from the 737   
   MAX debacle at Boeing.   
       
   Airbus maintains its expectation to deliver 880 to 890 commercial aircraft   
   this year. Boeing previously predicted to stay above that with 895 to 905   
   aircraft, but has since abandoned that expectation. It doesn't know how many   
   there will be now.   
       
   The American company was hit hard by keeping the 737 MAX on the ground after   
   the crash in Ethiopia. As a result, Boeing had to reduce production of this   
   type from 52 to 42 aircraft per month.   
       
   This year, Airbus is increasing production of the competing A320neo family to   
   60 aircraft per month. The manufacturer also wants to gradually increase the   
   production pace of the A330neo.   
       
   In the first three months of this year, Airbus already had a large lead over   
   Boeing, with 162 deliveries compared to 149. Without the production increase   
   of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to 14 aircraft per month the difference would   
   have been even greater.   
       
   Airbus has only been larger than Boeing once in history: that was in the   
   period from 2003 to 2011. Boeing was larger in all other years. In the 1990s,   
   Boeing produced two to three times as many aircraft as Airbus.   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.99 SR41   
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