Plane orders announced at last week's Paris Air Show don't make Boeing Co's Chief Executive Philip Condit more optimistic about the state of the aviation market.

　　Talking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum conference in Jordan, Condit said: "For the most part, those were very long-term orders."

　　"The market is going to come back. There's no question in my mind that that's going to happen," he said. "But I wouldn't try to read near-term market outlook from those orders."

　　Boeing's commercial aircraft production next year will be similar to production this year, with a slight upturn in 2005 being "the best we could probably do," Condit said.

　　In Paris, Alan Mulally, chief executive of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes unit, said the company expects to deliver about 280 aircraft this year and 275 to 300 in 2004. Boeing delivered 527 planes in 2001 and 381 planes in 2002.

　　Asked about deals in the pipeline, Condit replied: "Right now, I think we're in a real pause, because Asia was the one strong part for commercial aviation and SARS has clearly changed that picture. Until that clarifies, I don't think we'll see a lot happening."

　　Revenue growth in military sales will be more robust, topping 10 percent next year, Condit said.

　　He also said there's a high probability Boeing's board will decide to go ahead with its planned fuel-efficient plane, the 7E7.

　　The board decision will likely be made late this year, with firm orders expected next year, he said.

　　Chicago-based Boeing is looking at Europe for merger potentials, and at Britain's BAE Systems within that broader context. But no merger talks with BAE or other European companies are ongoing, he said.

　　Condit expects economic growth in the Middle East and the rebuilding of Iraq to generate more aircraft orders from the region. He estimated that talks on rebuilding Iraqi Airways' fleet wouldn't start for a year or so.