Also On Monday, Brazil's Embraer, the world's third largest commercial airplane producer, launched its new family of E2 regional jets and announced it had pocketed 100 firm orders and 215 intentional purchases of the aircraft from customers including U.S. regional airlines SkyWest and U.S. leasing company ILFC.
Different from last year's marketing focus on smaller model aircraft, the competition between two giant aircraft manufacture rivals, the American Boeing and the French Airbus, has shifted to grasp major shares in wide-body, long-haul jets market at this year's show.
In the race, Boeing expects to use the 2013 Paris Air Show to maintain its solid share on the long-haul market, hoping to win more contracts for 787 Dreamliner and 777, while Airbus pins its hope on its new A350, which successfully took last Friday the first test flight in Toulouse, southern France.
Both planes make extensive use of lighter composite materials that help reduce fuel consumption and pollution. But Airbus argued that its aircraft is more fuel-saving, 6 percent less than the Beoing 787 and 25 percent less than the Beoing 777.
However, A350 is not exhibited on this year's show, but it will conduct a flyby in the coming days.
In the fighter plane area, American fighter jets, for the first time over the past 20 years, did not show up at this year's exhibition due to budget cuts in the United States.
Conversely, Russian fighter jet, the Sukhoi Su-35, flew for the first time out of its own country to appear at the show, seeking opportunities to gain market share.
Taking place at the Le Bourget exhibition center in northeast Paris, the 50th International Paris Air Show will last until June 23.
The week-long show is expected to attract more than 350,000 visitors, among whom 151,000 are trade visitors.
The biennial event attracts 2,113 leading players of the global aviation industry from 45 countries and regions, including 11 Chinese companies. Up to 150 airplanes will conduct flying display.
Established in 1909 at the Grand Palais in France's capital, the Paris Air Show has been the oldest, the most popular and important show in the aviation industry.
