Aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, hurt by delays in new models, have pledged to get the overdue 787 Dreamliner and the A400M military transport jet into the air by the end of this year.

The maiden flights would offer a welcome boost for the two-top global manufacturers, which are struggling with a slumped demand following the world economic crisis.

Airbus chief executive, Tom Enders, said that hew as confident that the A400M will see its first flight by the end of the year.

The aircraft producer’s parent company EADS has reported a 77 per cent drop in third-quarter takings earlier this week, hit even harder by the delay of the A400M and even softer airliner demands.

He also said that production on the A380 superjumbo was still slower than anticipated.

The news comes as the Dubai Air Show comes to a close, with many of the world’s global aviation companies gathering to show off the latest technology in air craft, but given the world economic crisis, sales have been significantly lower than desired.

Emirates and other carriers in the Middle-East are still shopping, however business has been slower than in recent years.

But it hasn’t been all bad news for Airbus and Boeing, as Emirates Airlines announced that USD$55 billion of orders with the two manufacturers may take over orders which have been postponed or cancelled by other airlines.

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing predicts that airlines would return to profit again in 2011, underpinned by a recovery in global economic growth and passenger travel next year.