Unveiling its commercial results for last year, Airbus said it delivered 311 planes in 2000, up from 294 in 1999, and a figure which brings its share of the market for large commercial aircraft to roughly 40 per cent. In a year which far exceeded the expectations of Airbus and Boeing Co, the 520 planes ordered came in just shy of a record 556 seen in 1998. The $41.3 billion value of those planes represented a new peak for the company.

However, Airbus commercial director John Leahy told a newsconference on Monday that orders would slow this year, amid signs of weaker US economic growth.

"We believe it will be a softer market this year," Mr Leahy said. "I would say 350 to 400 orders sounds about right."

Shares in the owners of Airbus were not greatly affected bythe results. European aerospace group EADS was up 0.22 percent in thin volume, while BAE shares were down 1.33 percent. Seattle-based Boeing delivered 489 commercial jets andreceived new orders for 611 new planes in 2000, pushing up orders logged by both firms to an impressive 1,131.