Airbus Gets 326 Orders During 1996

Airbus Industrie, the world’s No. 2 jetmaker, said Monday that it received 326 firm orders for commercial jets in 1996, worth a total of $23.6 billion.

Airbus said it had 25 orders canceled last year, leaving it a net of 301 aircraft ordered in 1996. In 1995, the European consortium had just 106 orders. Airbus said it received preliminary commitments for another 197 jets last year. They would be worth another $10.8 billion.

Airbus, which controls about a third of the commercial jet market, has vowed to take half the market within the next few years.

Boeing, which currently has nearly two-thirds of the market, is expected to announce its total for 1996 orders on Tuesday.

As of late December, Boeing had announced orders for 645 aircraft, valued at $47.26 billion.