Boeing Trails Airbus in 2005 Deliveries

Boeing Co. said it delivered 73 commercial airplanes in the fourth quarter for a full-year total of 290, up slightly from 2004 but still behind Airbus for a third straight year.

Boeing is hopeful of soon reclaiming the top spot after booming sales of its planned new 787 helped it secure a record 1,002 airplane orders in 2005, ensuring strong delivery numbers in the years ahead.

But its deliveries were up only marginally from 285 in 2004 and 281 in 2003, reflecting airline industry cutbacks as well as a four-week strike by machinists in September that cost it 30 deliveries last year.