Airbus lags Boeing on jet sales in first nine months

European planemaker Airbus sold 76 aircraft in September, but ended the first nine months of the year behind its US rival Boeing in the number of planes sold and delivered, company data showed on Monday. It delivered 54 aircraft during September, including four A380 superjumbos, bringing the total number of deliveries for that type of aircraft so far this year to 21.

In the first nine months, Airbus booked orders for 1,077 aircraft. Net orders, which are adjusted for cancellations or conversions between different models, ended the period at 791. Airbus delivered a total of 443 aircraft between January and September. Boeing last week reported 1,106 orders in the first nine months, or 1,000 after adjusting for 106 cancellations. It delivered 528 aircraft, against a full-year target of 715 to 725.