Airbus secured agreements for 728 aircraft during the Paris Air Show after landing firm orders for 425 and commitments for a further 303, eclipsing Boeing’s firm booking of 66 jets.
The European airframer had been expected to put in a strong performance. Airbus has tended to reserve order declarations for the flagship French show, and the company has been particularly keen to offset last year’s poor publicity regarding delays to its A350 and A380 programmes.
Nineteen customers placed firm orders for Airbus aircraft as follows:
These 19 customers covered between them 141 A350s, bringing Airbus’ total firm orders for the twin-jet to 154. Airbus also has further commitments for 78 of the type, of which 52 were disclosed at the air show.
In the A330/340 category all but four firmed aircraft – the A340-600s for Etihad Airways – were for the twin-engined model, including orders for 46 A330 freighters from five customers.
Demand for the A320 family remained strong with customers placing firm orders and commitments for 390 aircraft, while Qatar Airways, Air France and Emirates agreed to acquire a total of 13 A380s.
Eleven customers placed additional Airbus commitments as outlined below:
"This air show has confirmed that Airbus is very much back on the market,” says the airframer’s chief executive Louis Gallois, highlighting the “tremendous customer endorsement” for the A350 and A380.
While Boeing formally identified customers for 125 aircraft, only 66 of these had not already been listed on Boeing’s order books.
US lessor International Lease Finance (ILFC) accounted for 60 of these with a new order for 50 Boeing 787s plus ten 737s. Lessor GECAS made up the remainder with an order for six Boeing 777 freighters.
The other 59 Boeing jets were for previously-booked but unidentified customers. Indonesia’s Lion Air disclosed an order for 40 737-900ERs. Air France-KLM confirmed nine 777s and seven 737s, while ILFC had also formerly added another two 787s and a single 777.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
