Boeing Co. said Tuesday it delivered 73 commercial airplanes in the fourth quarter for a full-year total of 290, up slightly from 2004 but still behind Airbus for a third straight year in the category that determines the world’s No. 1 plane maker.

Boeing is hopeful of reclaiming the top spot after booming sales of its new 787 helped it secure a record 1,002 airplane orders in 2005, ensuring strong delivery numbers in the years ahead.