U.S. aerospace manufacturing giant Boeing said Wednesday its commercial airplane segment's profit nearly doubled in 2006, reaching 2.73 billion dollars, as the company continued to see record airplane orders for a second year.

Boeing delivered 398 commercial airplanes last year, 302 of them were its 737 Next Generation aircraft, according to the Chicago-base company, whose commercial segment is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Chief Executive Jim McNerney said in a statement that the company achieved new records in revenue, cash flow and backlog, and overcame meaningful challenges by focusing on improving productivity and meeting commitments.

The company's total backlog rose to 250 billion dollars at the year end, up 22 percent, reflecting a second consecutive year of record commercial airplane orders, which reached 1,044 for 2006.

The numbers cemented Boeing in place as the world's leader in commercial aerospace, as the only other global commercial passenger airplane maker Airbus fell behind Boeing in 2006 orders. Boeing won the race for orders for new commercial aircraft for the first time since 2000.

Airbus forecast earlier this month a loss for 2006 after delays to its flag ship A380 program led to a flurry of charges and increased costs.

Meanwhile, Boeing said that it would continue to address pressures with respect to weight and supplier implementation under its 787 Dreamliner airplane project.

Boeing's new twin-aisle 787 model, which weighs slightly more than planned. is scheduled to enter service in May 2008.

Boeing left its delivery target for commercial airplanes unchanged at between 440 and 445 for 2007, and it expects to deliver between 515 and 520 commercial airplanes in 2008.