Airbus raises 2013 sales target to 1,000

Airbus has upped its sales target for 2013 to 1,000 planes. But, so far this year, the European aircraft maker is lagging behind US rival Boeing.

Air France-KLM incoming Chief Executive Alexandre de Juniac at a signing ceremony for an order of 25 Airbuses at last month's Le Bourget airshow Reuters/Pascal Rossignol

Airbus now aims to net 1,000 orders this year, raising its initial target of 800, commercial director John Leahy told the Reuters news agency on Friday at a ceremony to mark the delivery of the 1,000th A330.

In 2012 Airbus received 914 orders.

It has already announced 722, including over 200 to Indonesia's Lion Air, in the first six months of 2013, as well as a further 100 that have yet to be written into the accounts.

The European company's main rival, Boeing, has beaten it so far this year with 859 orders from January to June this year.