Nov. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, the world’s largest commercial planemaker, expects to maintain delivery rates next year as an economic rebound revives travel demand.

The company will hand over a similar number of planes in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Chief Operating Officer John Leahy said at a briefing in Sydney today. Last year, the planemaker delivered 483 planes.

Air travel will grow as much as 5 percent next year, Leahy said, as the global recession eases, spurring demand for business and leisure flights. Worldwide international air travel fell 5.3 percent in the first nine months of this year, according to the International Air Transport Association, forcing carriers to delay or ax fleet expansion plans.

Airbus yesterday won an order for 14 A320s from Air New Zealand Ltd., which may increase by as many as 11 more planes. The aircraft will replace Boeing Co. 737s operated by New Zealand’s biggest carrier on domestic routes.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nichola Saminather in Sydney at nsaminather1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 3, 2009 21:47 EST