Boeing's commercial plane orders more than tripled to a record 1,002 for 2005, the US planemaker said on Thursday, signaling that it will probably reclaim the lead from European rival Airbus for the first time since 2001.

The net order total, lifted by strong demand from Asian and Middle Eastern airlines, broke the record set in 1988 for 877 net orders from Boeing and McDonnell Douglas combined. Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas in 1997.

Boeing did not say how many planes it delivered to airlines. The Chicago-based aerospace company will almost certainly lag Airbus in deliveries this year, though Boeing officials have said they hope the strong orders will eventually allow it to take the lead in deliveries as well.

The Boeing order total is 55 percent more than the combined total for Airbus and Boeing in 2004.

Both commercial planemakers benefited this year from expansion by low cost airlines from India to Ireland, as well as appetite for new planes like Boeing's composite 787 Dreamliner.