Through the end of last week Boeing Co. had booked 870 net jetliner orders so far this year, which the company said may put it on track to beat a record set in 1988.

Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, which have since merged, booked 877 net orders that year.

Boeing, the Chicago aerospace company, said last week that it might win additional orders before the end of the year. The would push its total over the 1988 figure.

Boeing has won 895 total airplane orders so far this year, but 25 airplane orders were canceled.

The banner year represents a significant rebound for Boeing, which had recently been losing ground to rival Airbus SAS.

Alan Mulally, a graduate of Lawrence High School and Kansas University, is chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.