In a centrepiece to this year’s airshow, the USA military’s supersonic F-35 warplane – the most expensive in history – made its Farnborough debut in a deafening roar, having already delighted the crowds at the Royal International Air Tattoo last weekend.
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Meanwhile, Airbus said Tuesday that it will reduce 2018 production of the A380 to just 12 planes a year, about half of 2016 production.
Airbus has delivered 193 of the A380s, which can carry more than 500 passengers.
“I just think that orders will continue to slow over the next few years”, said Scott Hamilton, an aviation industry consultant.
Through the years, ALC has ordered a total of 260 airplanes from Boeing including 118 737 MAXs, 75 Next-Generation 737-800s, 21 777-300ERs and 46 787 Dreamliners.
Separately, India’s GoAir said it had signed a preliminary agreement to buy 72 A320neos, worth around $7.7 billion at current list prices and doubling an existing order.
U.S. rival Boeing meanwhile said that China’s state-owned Xiamen Airlines had expressed interest in 30 single-aisle 737 MAX 200 planes – a deal that would amount to $3.39 billion (3.07 billion euros).
With today’s order, Tui Group now has three unfilled orders for 787-9s and 70 for the 737 MAX.
Finally, Icelandic low-priced carrier WOW air placed a firm order for four A321neos with a total list value of $503 million.
In recent years, AirAsia has become the A320 family’s largest customer. Over 170 A320s have already been delivered. “The A321neo will be operated on our most popular routes and especially at airports with infrastructure constraints”.
And both Airbus and Boeing are taking the chance to update the aerospace technology used and the in-cabin experience.
The unit of Wadia Group signed a “memorandum of understanding” of with Airbus.
China’s Xiamen Airlines’ July 11 commitment to purchase up 30 737 MAX 200 aircraft was the first major commercial aircraft order announcement of the airshow.
Boeing added that Air Lease Corporation ha doubled an order to six 737 MAX 8s worth a total of 660 million.
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Craig Kreeger, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, added: “The size of this order demonstrates our absolute focus on investing in the future for our customers and our people, and confirms the strength of our business”. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline partners worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. The agreement for 10 737 MAX7s further enhances the strategic cooperation between Boeing and Kunming Airlines. The trend is prompting low-priced operators that have already amassed large order backlogs to add even more planes, with India’s SpiceJet Ltd also weighing an order for as many as 100 737s or A320s, though not certain to reach a decision this week.
