Airbus SAS is expected to come out ahead, having logged 1,204 orders as of the end of November, the latest update available and well above its own record of 1,111 orders, set two years ago. The Toulouse, France-based company releases its 2007 total in January.
Analysts, trade groups, and executives at both companies have said they expect sales to slow next year, in large part because of high fuel prices and the credit crunch that's slowing the US economy.
The International Air Transport Association projects airlines worldwide will post a $5.6 billion profit in 2007 - their first year in the black since before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks sparked a global downturn in air travel.
Airlines are expected to do well again next year, but the association recently slashed its 2008 industry profit forecast to $5 billion, down from $7.8 billion.
"We're concerned that consumer confidence is falling . . . in the face of a drop in housing prices and the credit crunch. That affects both consumers who buy leisure travel and businesses and corporations that buy business travel," said Steve Lott, a spokesman in IATA's North American office.
Boeing's latest orders include the 737s -31 of them - that Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. tacked on to a previous order for 38 of the single-aisle jets.
Other orders booked in the past week came from:
The Irish airplane leasing company AWAS, which also signed up for thirty-one 737s.
Delta Air Lines, which ordered two widebody 777s.
Unidentified customers who ordered three mid-size 787s.
Boeing's year-to-date order total stretches through Dec. 18.
The company said its next order update will be announced in early January.
