Airbus predicts order slump, seeks to protect deliveries in 2009

Airbus and Boeing will this year make more aircraft deliveries than they receive orders, if latest predictions from the manufacturers play out. (This will be the first time this has occurred since 2003). Airbus is predicting 300-400 new orders this year, including ten A380s, while deliveries are expected to hold at last year's record level of 483.