Orders are starting to slow for Airbus and Boeing after three years of record sales

Chicago Tribune reports that orders are starting to slow for Airbus and Boeing after three years of record sales. The US daily says it is not clear, however, whether airlines are just taking a break or whether they are headed for a global shakeout that will translate into order cancellations or postponements. George Shapiro, analyst at Citi Investment Research, says the second scenario is more likely. As for Airbus and Boeing, they believe they are protected against the impact of the oil cris is by a record backlog of orders that will support their respective production lines for the next seven years. Other analysts, points out Chicago Tribune, downplay the risk to the plane makers. Chicago Tribune (18/06)