Airbus sells 158 planes by April end

Toulouse, France: Airbus, a division of European aerospace and defence major EADS, said it had sold 158 aircraft in the four months to end-April this year, delivering 153 aircraft over this period.

According to the airframe manufacturer, it delivered 38 aircraft in April, maintaining its production rate at more than one plane a day.

Airbus was the world's largest commercial aircraft producer, until it lost its leadership position to archrival Boeing last year.

Cumulative new orders for 2007 include 24 sold in April. All the April orders, except one of the aircraft, are single-aisle aircraft from the A320 family.