Ramping Up.

The article focuses on Airbus Industrie SA and Boeing Co. which agree that demand has improved so much that delivery rates may need to be ramped up across their product lines. Boeing has seen such strong demand for the 787, 266 orders or commitments from 21 customers, that production in the first three years, 2008 to 2010, is committed. In early 2006, production rates of single-aisles will be boosted to 30 aircraft per month and of A340s to eight aircraft per month, according to Airbus President Noel Forgeard. Heading into the frenzy of the Paris air show, Boeing held an 81-aircraft order lead over Airbus for the year, welcome news after losing its traditional order-and-delivery leadership to Airbus in 2003 and 2004.