An unidentified customer has placed an order for 52 narrow-bodied A320 jets, pushing the total order tally of the European commercial aircraft builder Airbus to 194 in November. The plane maker booked total of 74 orders in November and and is doing everything possible to woo airlines by announcing discounts and easy finance facilities.

Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. NV, has set a target for 300 gross orders in 2009 and added last month that the target is realistic despite many challenges in the way. The firm too faced the heat of global slowdown and had cut production rate of narrow-bodied A320 family aircraft to 34 per month.

The order for 52-plane A320 is said to have come from a leasing company instead of any airline as they are still reeling under pressure due to low aviation activities on the back drop of global financial crisis.

The plane maker said that it delivered 38 aircraft in November and is optimistic of reaching delivery tally of aircrafts to 490 aircraft in the full year. It had delivered 483 and 453 aircrafts in 2008 and
2007 respectively.

In the meantime, Boeing Co. (BA) got 149 gross orders up to November 2009 with the cancellation of net 93 orders.