Airbus has exceeded targets to deliver a record number of aircraft orders in 2013. 

The European aeroplane manufacturer announced a total of 626 deliveries last year, an increase of 38 aircraft against the results it achieved the year before. It is the 12th year running that the company has seen a rise in figures.

Although rival manufacturer Boeing announced more deliveries, Airbus has become the market leader in aircraft with more than 100 seats. It now commands a 51 per cent gross share, complimenting its successes in both single aisle and widebody categories.

Fabrice Bregier, Airbus president and chief executive officer, hailed the company's strategy to transform itself into a more agile company as a huge success. He said: "These benchmark results are feeding nicely into our profitability targets and the trajectory is showing strongly upwards."

The company's military arm delivered 31 aircraft to the French air force last year and took on an extra 3,000 employees.