Boeing saw its sales of commercial aircraft drop 53% in 2008 as airlines' demand for new planes slowed in response to global recession and a falloff in travel.

The Chicago-based company will place second to rival Airbus in the jetliner sales race. Boeing reported net new orders for 662 jetliners, down from its record of 1,413 in 2007. Europe's Airbus won't report its 2008 sales totals until next week, but through Nov. 30 it had booked 756 new orders. Like Boeing, Airbus' 2008 sales are off from its record of 1,458 aircraft orders in 2007.

Airbus overtook Boeing as the sales leader in 1999, and has held onto the top spot in seven of the nine years since.

Boeing's delivery of new planes, which has a more immediate impact on the aircraft maker's bottom line, also was down in 2008. The company delivered 375 planes in 2008, down 15% from the 441 it delivered in 2007. Airbus, meanwhile, delivered 437 planes through the first 11 months of 2008. It delivered 453 in 2007.

Boeing entered 2008 expecting to deliver about 520 planes. But an eight-week machinists strike in the fall and major problems in the development of its new 787 wide-body cost it about 145 deliveries. The 787, which was to have entered service in 2008, still hasn't made its first test flight, and its first delivery now isn't expected until early 2010.

Boeing estimated that the strike cost it about $100 million a day in deferred revenue.