Airbus and Boeing deals cleared for takeoff at Paris air show
Aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing opened the Paris air show with a flurry of multi-billion-dollar plane deals yesterday, as hungry Asian and Middle Eastern carriers put in orders faster than the rivals can make them.
Airbus said Garuda Indonesia had signed a letter of intent to buy 30 A350 XWB jets, worth $9bn (£5.8bn) at list prices – although airlines generally negotiate lower bills for a fleet order.
Paris air show display
Garuda also pledged to buy up to 30 of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliners and 30 737 Max 8 jets in a deal that could be worth about $10.9bn.
Airbus countered its Seattle-based rival by signing up Saudi Arabian Airlines to be its launch customer for the A330-300, with the carrier committing to 20, as well as 30 A320neo jets in a deal worth about $8.2bn at list prices.
French President Francois Hollande joins the onlookers at the Paris air show
Despite this, analysts expect this year’s aerospace industry jamboree to result in fewer big contracts than usual, with manufacturers turning their attention to producing the $1.8 trillion already on their order books.
Airbus was upbeat about prospects for four-engined superjumbos
But demand still remains robust, particularly from fast-growing Middle Eastern and Asian airlines.
Airbus raised its 20-year forecast for jet demand by four per cent to 32,600. The group was upbeat about prospects for four-engined superjumbos, including its A380, the biggest passenger jet, which has so far failed to live up to sales expectations.