European airliner manufacturer Airbus, part of the larger aerospace and defence Airbus Group (previously EADS), announced on Monday that it had exceeded its commercial targets for last year. The company set new records in aircraft deliveries – 626 – and gross order intake value ($240.5-billion, using list prices). It also set a new industry record for the  gross number of aircraft ordered (1 619) and reached another industry record of a 5 559 aircraft  production backlog, amounting to eight years’ production worth (using list prices) $809-billion.

“I thank the Airbus teams for these great achievements,” said company president and CEO Fabrice Bregier. “The transformation of our company into a simpler, more agile and faster one is clearly taking shape. We are producing aircraft at all-time-highs and selling our market leading products at record levels. These benchmark results are feeding nicely into our profitability targets, and I am proud to report that the trajectory is showing strongly upwards. To expand our leadership in single aisles and wide bodies, 2014 will be significant with the first flight of the A320neo and the entry-into-service of the A350 XWB.”

Airbus also announced that it had raised its list prices for its airliners by an average of 2.6%, with effect from January 1. The increment was calculated by the planemaker using its standard escalation formula, over the period January 2013 to January 2014. The list price is not necessarily identical with the actual price paid by an airline, as the latter depends on the degree of customisation specified, the selection of engines and design weights.

“Our new 2014 pricing reaffirms the unbeatable value of Airbus’ modern, fuel-efficient aircraft family,” stated company chief operating officer: customers John Leahy. “We see continuing strong demand in all aircraft size categories as our reliable, efficient, product line enables customers to grow their businesses profitably as well as pleasing passengers who will always favour the most comfortable cabin.”

In terms of deliveries, in 2013 Airbus handed over to 93 customers 493 A320-family aircraft, 108 A330s and 25 A380s; 15 of those customers were new. In terms of gross orders, these comprised 377 A320ceo and 876 A320neo aeroplanes, 77 A330s, 239 A350 XWBs, and 50 A380s. This is 11 aircraft more than ordered in Airbus’ previous record year, 2011.

Airbus list prices range from $71.9-million for the A318 – the company’s smallest airliner – through $221.7-million for the A330-200 wide body to $295.2-million for the new generation A350 XWB and to $414.4-million for the A380. Since its creation, Airbus has sold almost 14 000 aircraft to more than 360 customers, of which more than 8 000 have been delivered.