Airbus, which historically tends to pull off surprises at air shows and uses them as a deadline to close deals, is chasing Asian and other orders while Boeing is expected to confirm orders for its struggling 747-8 freighter, amid fresh warnings from airlines about stagnant cargo activity.
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Spokespeople for the prime minister and Britain’s Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
Airbus goes into next week’s Farnborough Airshow lagging behind arch-rival Boeing after ending the first half of the year with 227 aircraft orders, or 183 after adjusting for cancellations, company data showed on Wednesday.
Larger, more expensive twin-aisle planes are likely to be most at risk. “The airplane is specially marked with decals prominently featuring Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms, two iconic symbols of Japan”, according to a Boeing press release.
That deal for Airbus’s top-selling single-aisle plane, if confirmed, would also be a disappointment to Boeing, which tried to wrestle back its former customer on the eve of the air show, the sources said, asking not to be named.
The P-8As can operate at long range without refuelling and have the endurance to carry out high and low-level maritime and land surveillance for extended periods.
The U.S. company announced a preliminary deal with Volga Dnepr a year ago.
The world’s two biggest planemakers also announced a flurry of multi-billion dollar jet deals at the biennial Farnborough Airshow, which opened on Monday 45 miles (72 km) southwest of London.
Donghai Airlines now has a fleet of 11 Boeing 737-800s serving for more than 10 cities across China.
Boeing said it will make the United Kingdom its base for defence exports to Europe and the Middle East, increasing United Kingdom employment, investment and tax revenue.
At least one of those moves partially includes a response to the success of the 185-seat A321neo, illustrated by what sources describe as plans for Norwegian Air to upgrade 30 of the 100 150-seat A320neos it has ordered to the larger jet.
The service will be launched when the first plane is delivered in May of 2017 and coverage will be provided through 2034.
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It also handed more than three A380 jets, taking the total in the first half to 14.
