I know..... I said when the A340 came out it was selling well. The 500 and 600 are brand new, after the decrease in sales due to rising fuel costs and other factors.

And if you want to get in to who has more orders well......
Airbus was officialy incorporated in 2001. Since 2002 Airbus has out sold Boeing. All Boeing has left is there wide bodies, and they will do anything to hang on to that. Which they will eventualy lose to. The A340 was basicly Airbuses first large long haul aircraft, so of coarse its not going to be perfect. The 777 was made from lots of past experiance at making large long haul aircraft. The A340 did alright for a first time aircraft of its type for a company.

 

your right boeing has only delivered 5,000 737's (with over 6000 orders) but of course the only current main customers are small time airlines like Southwest, Continental, American, Delta, Ryanair
so Boeing's smaller aircraft are shure to lose their edge over the next few years

BTW last year Airbus got 15 orders for the A340

 

While the 777 has no doubt done extremely well, to make this comparision far wouldn't you have to include A340-200/300 and A330-300 orders/deliveries as well? Those are the models that Airbus has put up against the 777, not just the 340-500 and -600.

 

Im sorry if you didnt notice this is NOT the 70's anymore. You actualy just proved my point, 737 was selling like hot cakes untill the A320 came on to the market than all of a sudden Airbus over took 737 orders and has now for the last 4 consecutive years out sold boeing overal.
Im sorry you did not notice before that the A320 is pushing the 737 market share lower and lower.

Now I will break down the A320 and 737 sales history.
Up to 31 December 2005:
True boeing has sold 4,966 737's with 1,133 on firm order. However This was from 1967.
The Airbus on the other hand has sold 2,631 A320s with another 1,652 on firm order. But this was only from 1988!
On a per annum scale Airbus delivered on average 146 A320 series aircraft , compared to 127 for Boeing's 737.


Yes it does not look like Boeing is losing the small aircraft market share to airbus

 

Nice quote typhoonpilot. But come on, we can't just pick on the A340 (even though it is the easiest one to pick on). Lets look at Boeing VS Airbus 05 sales numbers.

Boeing 787: 235
Airbus A350: 87

Boeing 777: 154
Airbus A340: 15

Boeing 747: 43
Airbus A380: 20
(Lets not forget about Airbus' research and development costs)

Boeing 767: 15 (And potential for 100 as part of USAF tanker deal)
Airbus A330: 0

 

Emirates alone has 41 A380's on order! With a grand total of 159 firm orders with another 70 options. Airbus said break even is at about 250, so they are over half way there before any of them are operational.

 

linebacker35 do you do any research at all? I mean come on

"You actualy just proved my point, 737 was selling like hot cakes untill the A320 came on to the market than all of a sudden Airbus over took 737 orders "

Boeing has gotten orders for 3,012 NG 737's with the first delivery in 96. Airbus has 4348 orders for the A320 family with first delivery in 88. And if you take out 545 orders for the 321 which was a 757 competitor (up until a couple years ago with the introduction of the 737-900) you get 3803.

Wow 737 sales tanked after the introduction of the A320/319, the 320 family has been in production for 8 years longer than the NG737 and they sold 800 more aircraft. Wow, thats impressive.

 

Sales numbers play no role in the original posters intent of this thread. Putting up sales numbers for Airbus vs. Boeing is like saying that a Geo Metro is a better car because they sold more units that Corvettes. The question is what is a better airplane to fly?

 

What we are all forgetting is that it matters not which is superior. When you go to the grocery you buy the superior food/beverage items. I don't know anyone personally who can purchase a $30 million plus Boeing or Airbus. The reality is you apply/interview at flying companies. When one (or more) offers you a job, you accept based on pay, benefits, and long-term stability...not which aircraft are in the fleet! IMO both are outstanding jets as long as the paycheck flies.

 

Did you even read my post????
I said Boeings small aircraft market share has been slipping. Once again you just proved my point...... you just said Airbus sold 4348 A320's to 3012 737 NGs! Altogether 737 are at about 6,000 and A320's are at 4,348. In recent history the A320 has outsold the 737, are you saying that those 4,348 A320 orders did not take any orders away from the 737 line?
For boeing to have a larger market share of the smaller aircraft market since 1988 they would have had to of sold over 4,348 737's since 1988!! Which we all know is not true. Face it Boeing sold the majority of thier 737's pre A320.

And if you want to go the route of that 800 more in 8 years...... In 21 years longer Boeing has only sold 1,812 more than airbus!

Since 2002 Airbus has sold more aircraft every year than that of boeing, we all know its not the A340's pushing airbus ahead. Airbus has a large sales deficet when it comes to A340 vs 777. Which means the A320 makes up that slack and not only catches up but SURPASSES boeings sales at the expense of the 737.

So the A320 currently holds a greater market share for its market than that of the 737. I believe the 737 had held the majority market share before 1988, and now it does not. Simple mathmatics would show that a higher to a lower market share indicates a DECLINE! The 737 lost alot of its market share to the A320.