PARIS, May 7, 2009 (AFP) - European airliner maker Airbus did better than US rival Boeing in terms of orders despite cancellations in the first third of 2009, data from Airbus showed on Thursday.

Between January 1 and April 30, Airbus took 30 new orders and received 19 cancellations, thus expanding sales by 11 aircraft, it said.

Earlier, Boeing had announced 40 new orders and 33 cancellations, for the period January 1 to April 28.

Airbus' new orders included one for five of its widebodied A350 XWB from the Indian airline Kingfisher, and one from Korean Air for six of its smaller A330-200 twin-jet airliners and two A380 super jumbos.

Most of the cancelled Airbus aircraft were from its smallest single-aisle A320 series, with fewer than 200 seats each, while Boeing saw 32 cancelled orders for its flagship 787 Dreamliner.

The Dreamliner project has been plagued with delays. The fuel efficient long-haul jet's first test flight is due later this year, after a strike by Boeing workers in September and October last year.

In the first four months of the year, Airbus delivered 162 airliners and hopes to match last years record of 483 by the end of 2009. Boeing delivered 121 in the first quarter to the end of March.