Airbus believes it is finally poised to top US arch-rival Boeing in the aircraft-makers' league.

The Toulouse-based plane maker said it would deliver 300 planes this year, while Boeing is forecasting 275-285.

"Three hundred is a fair target for deliveries in 2003 but it is not a certainty," Airbus chief commercial officer John Leahy said.

"We will have to wait until the spring for a clear picture on 2003," he said.

Confirmation of the figures would see Airbus beat Boeing for the first time in terms of aircraft deliveries.

Airbus overtook Boeing in orders in 2002 after securing a huge 120-plane deal from British low-cost carrier EasyJet in October.

While orders are an indicator of future earnings, due to cancellation it is deliveries that really count.

Vital statistics

Airbus delivered 303 aircraft last year worth $19.5bn, the third consecutive year above the 300 mark.

But the figure compared with a record 325 hit in 2001.

Yet Airbus suffered less in 2002 than Boeing, whose 381 delivery figure was more than a quarter lower than that recorded a year before.

Many airlines, coping with the global economic downturn and the aviation slump prompted by the 11 September attacks, cancelled orders for new planes.

Overall, Airbus booked 300 new plane orders in 2002, against 251 by Boeing.

But 67 orders were cancelled, bringing net orders to 233 aircraft worth $18.4bn.

Boeing's net order figure was 176.

US inroads

Airbus predicted there would be about 350 orders this year and it hoped to secure more than half of them.

Last week, US low-cost carrier Alaska Airlines said it might add Airbus to its all-Boeing fleet for the first time to cut costs.

Airbus has also score sales with tradition Boeing customers Frontier Airlines and JetBlue in the US.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) holds 80% of Airbus, and the UK's BAE Systems the remainder.