Airbus Group SE left Boeing Co. trailing on the second day of the 2016 Farnborough International Air Show after landing a $12.6 billion jetliner deal from AirAsia Bhd. “The market-leading efficiency and reliability of the 737 MAX 200 will enable Xiamen and its subsidiaries to expand its growing network, while maintaining an optimal fleet”.
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Airbus and Boeing have enjoyed years of strong sales, with rising air travel and demand for new fuel-efficient aircraft raising the industry’s order backlog to a record 13,500 aircraft at the end of 2015, or near 10 years of production at current rates.
Virgin Atlantic President Sir Richard Branson said, “We’re thrilled to welcome the A350 to Virgin Atlantic”.
“ALC already has lease agreements in place with seven different airlines for 737-8 MAX aircraft out of our Boeing delivery stream, starting in the fourth quarter of 2017”, said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation.
Cargo Air, Lineas Aereas Suramericanas (LAS) Cargo, will each receive two 737-800BCFs. Air Algerie, based in Algiers, Algeria, signed a commitment for two 737-800BCFs.
“On the commercial side of the business, we were pleased at the confidence our customers displayed in our portfolio of airplanes and services with significant orders and other announcements”, Muilenburg said.
Opening the Farnborough event, British Prime Minister David Cameron finalised multi-billion dollar deals with Boeing to buy nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes and to upgrade 50 Apache helicopters.
USA 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).
Boeing added yesterday that another unnamed Chinese carrier has signed a commitment for 30 737 jets worth over US$3 billion.
Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said the plane, which is based on the civilian Boeing 737, will help protect Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. With the fuselage stretched by 6 meters (20 feet) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly up to 45 more passengers for TUI Group, an additional 520 kilometers (280 nautical miles) with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes they replace.
The new services agreement represents the largest commercial services order in Boeing history, the company said.
On Tuesday alone, Airbus won a firm orders for a total of 129 aircraft worth US$15.6 billion at catalogue prices.
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India’s Go Airlines is examining the purchase of 70 smaller A320neos worth about $7.5 billion that could also come at the show, according to people familiar with their plans.
