Paris Air Show spending spree begins with big Garuda order
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Version 0 of 1. Indonesia’s flagship carrier Garuda was among the big spenders on the first day of the Paris Air Show, the most important event on Europe’s 2015 aviation calendar. The aircraft makers Airbus and Boeing kick-started their usual sales war by announcing billions of euros worth of orders and potential sales at the biennial show, which is expected to attract 315,000 visitors and 2,260 exhibitors from 47 countries. Opening the show at Le Bourget airfield outside Paris, French President François Hollande said: “The aviation sector created 10,000 jobs [in France] last year; we have hopes to create nearly as many in 2015.” Airbus said it had 146 firm orders and commitments for aircraft worth $24.5bn (£14bn) with customers including Saudi Arabian Airlines, which bought 50 aircraft, as well as a $6.4bn order for 60 Airbus A320neos from the leasing company GE Capital Aviation “Wings for all these aircraft will be built at the Airbus facility in Broughton [in north Wales], while design and testing takes place for all Airbus programmes at the engineering facility in Filton, Bristol,” it said in a statement. The company said it expected 32,600 new planes worth nearly $5 trillion to be built over the next 20 years. By 2034, it said passenger and freighter fleets would more than double from today’s 19,000 aircraft to 38,500. Some 13,100 passenger and freighter aircraft will be replaced with more fuel-efficient types. John Leahy, Airbus’s chief operating officer, customers, said: “Asia-Pacific will lead in world traffic by 2034 and China will be the world’s biggest aviation market within 10 years, and clearly Asia and emerging markets are the catalyst for strong air traffic growth. We are ramping up production of the A350 XWB and we are studying further production rate increases.” Boeing’s deals included an order from Qatar Airways for 14 twin-engined 777s. Both companies were boosted by an ambitious promise from Garuda to buy 90 jets over the next few years. Garuda’s commitment includes 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 30 737MAX 8s. “Boeing and Garuda have been partners in aviation for more than 35 years and we are honoured to work together again as they expand and continue to renew their fleet,” said Ray Conner, the chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 787-9 and 737 MAX will be a great complement to Garuda’s current Boeing airplanes, providing them with additional capability and superior economics and their customers with an exceptional flying experience.” The Paris Air show alternates with the Farnborough Air Show each year as Europe’s leading industry event. At Farnborough last year, Airbus clinched orders and commitments for 486 aircraft valued at $75bn. Boeing secured business worth $40.2bn for 201 aircraft. However, both Farnborough and Paris face pressure from rival shows such as Dubai’s. Airbus and Boeing dominate the market for large commercial jets. Rivals include Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or Comac, which was founded in 2008 with the express aim of breaking the Airbus-Boeing duopoly. |