Airbus sweeps the skies at Paris air show

PARIS: Last- minute orders swept Airbus to victory over Boeing at a Paris Airshow marked by stormy weather and hot debate over the next generation of big jets.

European planemaker Airbus clinched deals for 90 more planes on Thursday, taking its orders and commitments at the world’s top aviation fair to 466 aircraft worth $ 69 billion (R706bn) at list prices. US archrival Boeing Co said it had won firm and provisional orders for 442 aircraft valued at more than $66 billion.

The complexity of the $100 billion-a-year jetliner industry, mixed with promotional tactics on both sides, blurred the number of genuinely new deals. But participants said Airbus won the day after losing ground to Boeing last year.

“The rain brought us some very good luck,” said Airbus chief executive Fabrice Bregier.

EADS- owned Airbus pushed back its traditional endof-show round-up to enable it to squeeze out a final wave of orders from Hong Kong Aviation Capital, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.

United, which earlier this week became one of the launch customers for Boeing’s new 78710 Dreamliner model, signed a firm deal for Airbus’s competing A350-1000 aircraft worth $3.3 billion.

Barring more bad weather, the ceremonial flights are expected to lift a sombre mood left by days of torrential rain at the 50th Paris Airshow.

Airbus and Boeing clashed over wide-body jet strategy as orders for the world’s largest airliners dominated the show. Analysts say the war of words is just beginning. It will dominate the run-up to November’s Dubai Airshow, where Emirates airline, which wants to replace up to 175 current-generation 777s, is tipped as a major customer. – Reuters