Paris Air Show Highlights: Airbus Bags New Aircraft Orders Worth $21 Bn

Airbus bagged more aircraft orders on Wednesday as the week-long Paris Air Show inched closer to the final day of the trade. The new orders have raised the European aircraft manufacturer’s total to $21 billion. Airbus’s rival Boeing, who has come under global scrutiny following the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash, chose not to disclose new sales data, Reuters reported. 

The European aircraft maker has received an order for 10 long-haul jets from Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines. The company also announced an order for two A350 freighters from logistics company MNG Airlines. The manufacturing giant is also likely to seal a major deal with AirAsia. The company has made an “aggressive” attempt to boost A220 orders, but talks halted due to finance-related differences, Reuters reported, citing industry sources.

The customers who likely placed orders with various aircraft makers included Ethiopian Airlines, Polish air carrier Lot, Vietnam Airlines, AirAsia, Royal Air Maroc, Etihad and Saudi airline Riyadh, according to aviation intelligence firm IshkaGlobal. 

Commenting on the global supply chain disruption, Airbus on June 18 said it has experienced 40% fewer disruptions due to delayed components at its production unit. Global supply chain disruption following the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed the growth of aircraft manufacturing and impacted the international aviation business. According to a forecast by Boeing last week, the world will need 43,600 commercial aircraft over the next two decades, majority of the demand will come from the emerging markets.

While Airbus garnered all the attention at the show, Boeing maintained a low profile as it chose not to disclose newly placed orders. Besides this, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg cancelled his plans to attend the Paris Air Show after the Air India Dreamliner plane crash. Apart from Ortberg, Boeing commercial aircraft head Stephanie Pope also missed the international aviation industry’s most important annual gathering, Bloomberg reported, citing a company memo.