(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-04 21:23

CHICAGO -- The Chicago-based Boeing company announced on Thursday that its net orders for commercial airplanes hit a record high of 1,413 in 2007, the third consecutive year in which the company has won a record number of orders.

The figure for 2007 surpassed the previous Boeing records of 1,044 in 2006 and 1,002 in 2005. It is the third time in a row that the company's commercial airplane orders exceeded 1,000.

Gross orders in 2007, excluded cancellations and conversions, totaled 1,423. The figures for 2006 and 2005 were 1,050 and 1,029 respectively. The company has unfilled orders for more than 3,400 Boeing commercial airplanes.

A total of 80 different customers ordered the Boeing airplanes in 2007, including passenger airlines, cargo carriers, leasing companies, and unidentified customers.

The 787 program enjoyed a record-setting year with 369 orders in 2007. The Dreamliner is the fastest-selling new airplane program in history with a total of 817 orders since its launch in 2004.

Contracts finalized at the end of 2007 included the 787th (British Airways) and 800th (Vietnam Airlines/Vietnam Aircraft Leasing) orders for the Dreamliner. The 737 program had the strongest sales year in its history, setting a third consecutive record, with net orders for airplanes standing at 846.

The previous record totals for a single year for the 737 program were 729 net orders in 2006 and 569 in 2005. Boeing freighters also enjoyed a third consecutive record sales year, with 83 gross orders for freighters in 2007, compared with  81 freighters in 2006 and 74 in 2005.

Twin-aisle commercial airplane sales continued to be strong, in a year in which both the 767 and 777 surpassed 1,000 total program orders.

Orders for 777 marked the second strongest year in program history, with 141 net orders in 2007. The 747 program finished the year with 21 net orders, and the 767 program had 36 net orders.