Boeing sales soar to new heights

The Boeing Co hit a new record by delivering 143 airplanes to the Chinese mainland in 2013, a 60 percent year-on-year increase, the US-based aircraft manufacturer revealed on Wednesday.

Adding deliveries to other Chinese regions, the total delivery number was 168 in 2013, said Marc Allen, president of Boeing China.

China is the only country outside the US currently operating more than 1,000 Boeing aircraft, he said. The manufacturer delivered 28 percent of Boeing 737 aircraft made in the US to China in 2013.

"Importantly, we expect this rate — more than 140 aircraft deliveries a year — to continue this year and in the future," Allen said.

China's fast development of air traffic and airlines are the main reasons for the manufacturer's delivery growth, he added.

Boeing's main rival also benefited from China's robust market in 2013.

Airbus SAS delivered 133 airplanes to China in 2013, accounting for more than 20 percent of its global deliveries.

It is also the fourth year in a row for Airbus' deliveries to China to exceed 100. The European aircraft manufacturer plans to maintain this rate in 2014, said Robin Tao, Airbus China spokesman, on Wednesday.

Over the past year, the two major airplane builders both received more than 200 orders in China.

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