Airbus and Boeing both won pledges for big purchases of long-haul, wide-body jets yesterday, as the Paris Air Show got off to a robust, if rainy start.
The global aviation event at Le Bourget airfield north of Paris is once again playing host to the rivalry between US-based Boeing and France-based Airbus. After several years of success for their smaller models, the world's leading plane makers are hoping to get orders for the bigger, more expensive long-haul jets.
Boeing said GECAS, the aircraft leasing arm of General Electric, has made a promise to buy 10 of its 787 jets. Those would be worth more than US$2.4 billion at list prices, though customers often negotiate deep discounts. GECAS is ordering the new version of the 787, dubbed the Dreamliner, the 787-10X.
Qatar Airways also put in orders for Boeing's other long-haul aircraft, the 777.
Meanwhile, Airbus announced a potential order yesterday for its superjumbo 800-passenger A380 jets, which have seen disappointing sales since launching because of the fairly parlous state of the global economy over the past few years. Doric Lease Corp, signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 20 A380s. That deal, if confirmed, would be worth US$8 billion at list prices.
Airbus is also hoping to attract attention to its new wide-body A350 aircraft, which had its maiden flight in France on Friday and can carry up to 440 passengers. The A350 is Airbus' best chance to catch up with Boeing's 787 and 777, which carry up to 300 and 365 passengers respectively, in the race to sell planes used on long-haul flights.
Fernando Alonso, head of Airbus' flight test division, said yesterday that the first A350 flight went exactly as the simulator had predicted, and just like Airbus planes currently in operation. That's a selling point for airlines reluctant to take the time or expense to retrain pilots.
At a time when fuel costs are a major concern for airlines, many have wondered if the A350, which makes extensive use of fuel-friendly lightweight carbon fiber, would give Airbus a jump on Boeing. But Ray Conner, chief executive of Boeing's civilian aircraft division, claimed yesterday that its upcoming revamped 777 isn't that much heavier and that it has other advantages.
He told reporters that a wing re-design and improved engines will allow the plane to carry the same number of passengers "a lot farther."
"The A350-1000 will be a generation behind on engine technology," Conner said.
The most spectacular displays at the air show, though, are the demonstrations of fighter jets rocketing up toward space before diving back down gracefully.
Russia's Su-35 flew yesterday for the first time outside of its home country.
