AIRBUS has ousted Boeing as the world's biggest plane-maker, Reuters has reported.

Sources told the news agency that after delivering a forecast-beating 863 aircraft in 2019 - Airbus has seized the crown from its US rival.

Airbus deployed extra resources until hours before midnight to reach 863 aircraft for the year, compared with its revised target of 860 jets - as deliveries rose 7.9 per cent from 800 aircraft in 2018.

Airbus will not comment on the figures until February - at which point they will have been officially audited.

Plane-makers receive most of their revenues when aircraft are delivered - so the end-year delivery performance is closely monitored by investors.

Airbus's tally, which included around 640 single-aisle aircraft, broke industry records after it diverted thousands of workers and cancelled holidays to complete a buffer stock of semi-finished aircraft waiting to have their cabins adjusted.

It is a big boost for the company - which currently employs around 6,500 people at its Broughton site.