Wichita ? Airplane deliveries by Wichita’s three general aviation manufacturers increased 12 percent last year, two percentage points better than the industry average.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. reported Monday that U.S. planemakers delivered 2,355 aircraft in 2004, up from 2,137 the year before. Worldwide, production of aviation aircraft rose to 2,963 from 2,686. The industry’s total billings for the year increased 19 percent to $11.9 billion.

In Wichita, the combined production of Cessna Aircraft Co., Raytheon Aircraft Co. and Bombardier Aerospace was 1,277, up from 1,136 in 2003. The Wichita manufacturers produced 54 percent of all general aviation aircraft delivered last year and 54 percent of those built by U.S. manufacturers.

The three companies employ about 17,900 people in Wichita, with thousands more people working for companies that supply the industry.

Shipments were up last year for piston-engine aircraft, turboprops and business jets.