US Boeing Co. reported on Wednesday that it delivered 285 commercial airplanes in 2004 and met its expectations for the year.

Boeing said in a press release that it delivered 67 commercial airplanes during the fourth quarter of last year, putting full-year 2004 deliveries at 285.

Boeing said that the 737 Next Generation made up about seven out of 10 commercial airplanes it delivered for the year of 2004, reaching 48 for the fourth quarter and 202 for the last year.

The results were in line with the company's forecast, which it reiterated in July. In 2003, Boeing delivered 281 commercial aircraft.

Last month, Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, said it expected to deliver 315 to 320 airplanes in 2004. Airbus topped Boeing's deliveries for the first time in 2003.