“With this aircraft we believe we will hit 100 million passengers in the not-too-distant future”, Fernandes said, adding negotiations started over a meal in an Iranian restaurant in London past year, for which he said he paid the bill.
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“Middle classes in emerging markets will double to 3.5 billion people by 2035”, Airbus said in a statement, predicting particularly strong demand in China and India.
In addition, Germania Group has placed a firm order for 25 Airbus A320neos.
Through Wednesday morning, Airbus has announced 262 orders, compared with 102 for Boeing, according to a count at The Wall Street Journal.
Kunming Airlines has indicated an interest in purchasing 10 737 MAX 7 airplanes valued at US$902 million. Ruili Airlines, a low-priced carrier based in China, said Wednesday it ordered six 787-9 models to establish long-range services to complement its fleet of single-aisle planes. Airbus has said that it is not concerned about competing with Boeing should the aeroplane manufacturer decide to build a new version of the 757, but it has its own problems to contend with. The deal, valued at $864 million at list price, was already in the Chicago-based plane maker’s backlog as an undisclosed customer.
The show is also a treat for aviation buffs, who get a chance to see the world’s latest passenger and military aircraft in static display and in demonstration flights. Deal was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s website.
For its part, Boeing announced that China’s Donghai Airlines meant to buy 30 jets – comprising 25 medium-haul 737 Max 8s and five long-haul 787-9 Dreamliners – together worth more than US$4.0 billion. The airline has ordered a total of 575 Airbus narrow-body jets, with more than 170 already in service.
The Pratt & Whitney powered F-35 Lightning II simulates an aerial refuelling by a KC-130J aircraft during its first appearance at the Farnborough Air Show. The 737 MAX will be 14 percent more fuel-efficient than today’s most efficient Next-Generation 737s – and 20 percent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service.
Boeing had only received 121 orders valued at $13.7 billion as of Tuesday, excluding a pre-announced 747 deal.
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The company said the plane will be needed to handle growing passenger traffic at congested airports.
