Airbus's Paris orders avalanche lifted some of the gloom that has surrounded the manufacturer following the A380 delivery delays and runaway success of Boeing's 787, but it failed to completely dispel industry concerns over the underlying health of the manufacturer and its product line.

Conspicuous by their absence were major commitments to Airbus's largest in-service offerings, the A340-500 and -600, and new customers for the delayed, ultra-large A380.

However, the impressive longevity of the A320 family - introduced nearly 20 years ago - was reinforced by the announcement of hundreds of new orders, while the A340's twin-engined sister, the A330, continued to sell in large numbers. And perhaps more significantly for the company's long-term well-being, also in evidence was buoyant demand for the new A350 XWB mid-market widebody. But questions remain about how quickly Airbus is progressing with the detail design and securing a deal with General Electric for a second engine supplier.

"I can tell you with full confidence that Airbus is back and fully back - demonstrated by our order announcements at the show," said Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois in Paris. "We are in a better position than some expected only a few months ago, and I could even say a few weeks ago," he added.

Airbus took the opportunity at the show to unveil its new management structure, which Gallois says is "the first tangible evidence that we are progressing".

Airbus order highlights included:

Major commitments from AirAsia X, Avianca, Etihad, Hong Kong Airlines, Jazeera, Mandala, Qiantang, S7, Tiger and US Airways

A330-200 Freighters for Aircastle, Flyington, Intrepid and MNG

Buying sprees by lessors Alafco, CIT, GECAS and ILFC

Sales to Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah

A350 deals with Aeroflot an Qatar Airways

follow-on A380 purchases by Emirates and Qatar.

Speaking after Airbus's astonishing $45.7 billion order-winning performance on the first day of the show, Gallois said that the manufacturer was "in a better position than some expected only a few months ago, and even a few weeks ago". The 339 orders announced on day one eclipsed the previous one-day record of 280, set at Paris two years ago.

Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy described 18 June as "not a bad start for a show, considering the bad publicity we have had lately. It says we are back on track."

Leahy expects Airbus to book a total of around 600 firm orders in 2007, compared with 824 in 2006 and a record-breaking 1,111 in 2005.

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Source: Flight International

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