AIRBUS IS pressing ahead with its plans to raise commercial aircraft production by about a third by 2010, undeterred by growing uncertainties in the global economy and the heavy impact of surging fuel costs on airline finances.

In spite of pessimistic forecasts of falling orders, Airbus said yesterday it had enjoyed its second most successful Farnborough air show, with firm orders booked for 247 jets plus commitments for a further nine valued in total at $40.5 billion at list prices before discounts.

Recent orders are heavily concentrated in the Middle East with Etihad, the Abu Dhabi carrier, placing orders this week for 100 aircraft including 55 from Airbus and 45 from Boeing, while DAE Capital, the leasing arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, has finalised its purchase agreement for 100 aircraft from Airbus.

The preliminary DAE deal was announced last November but has only been taken into the Airbus order book this week. The Etihad orders cover deliveries until 2020. Both Airbus and its US rival, Boeing, have enjoyed three years of record orders, and Airbus expected at the beginning of the year that new orders would fall by 50 per cent in 2008 to about 700.

John Leahy, Airbus chief commercial officer, said the group had already booked 730 net new orders this year after taking account of 38 cancellations and he forecast new orders reaching about 850 in the full year. The increasing rate of production is supported by the group's record order backlog, which stands at 3,700 aircraft.