Airbus delivers record number of planes

Plane-maker Airbus delivered a record number of aircraft last year, it was announced today.

The company, whose planes' wings are made in the UK, delivered 510 commercial aircraft in 2010 compared with 498 in 2009.

More than 90 customers received Airbus planes last year and deliveries included 18 Airbus A380 superjumbos.

Airbus also announced that its net sales in 2010 totalled 574 commercial aircraft worth around £46.6 billion.

Airbus said this gave the company a 52% world market share of aircraft of 100 seats or more.

The new orders taken in 2010 included 32 for the A380, with customers showing faith in the superjumbo following the engine problem which forced a Qantas A380 to turn back to Singapore last November.

Airbus president and chief executive Tom Enders said today: "2010 was a good year, in fact better than expected 12 months ago. The market rebound and improved programme performance has been particularly encouraging.

"However, with plenty of challenges, especially in our development programmes, we'll have to work hard to further improve and also make 2011 a successful year for Airbus."