regarding operational aircraft, there were 7,264 airbus aircraft operational at april 2013. although airbus secured over 50% of aircraft orders in the decade since 2003, the number of boeing aircraft still in operation at april 2013 still exceeded airbus by 21% because airbus made a late entry into the market, 1972 vs. 1958 for boeing; this lead is diminishing as older aircraft are progressively retired.