Airbus delivers record 462 new jetliners in October 2012

Airbus orders for its twin-aisle A330 and extra-widebody A350 XWB led the total 23 commercial bookings logged in October, while a year-record 57 deliveries were made during the month to international customers.

The new business was led by Turkish Airlines’ acquisition of 15 A330-300s, which marked the carrier’s seventh order for this twin-engine aircraft family. These additional jetliners will be operated on medium- and long-haul routes from the Turkish Airlines hub in Istanbul.

Another repeat A330 booking came from Etihad Airways, signing a firm order for two additional A330-200s as part of this United Arab Emirates national airline’s continued growth plans.

Also in October, Libya’s Afriqiyah Airways acquired an additional four A350-900 versions of the A350 XWB jetliner family, and upsized its six A350-800s already on order to the same number of Airbus’ longer-fuselage A350-900 version.

Completing the month’s new business were bookings for two ACJ319 corporate jets by unnamed private customers.

In October, five A380s were delivered, marking the first time this number of 21st century flagship jetliners was provided to customers during a month. It brings the 2012 totals to 22, keeping Airbus on track for its target of delivering 30 double-deck aircraft during the year.

Other notable deliveries during the month included A320s for Jetstar Japan, AirAsia Japan and Peach Aviation – confirming the A320 Family’s success story with low-cost carriers in Japan and Asia.

By the end of October, 2012 deliveries reached an all-time year-to-date record of 462 to 76 customers, which also brought Airbus above the overall 5,300 milestone for its single-aisle aircraft and the 7,500 mark in all of its deliveries combined.