Airbus is trouncing Boeing in the race to be the world’s biggest planemaker, claiming more than US$72 billion worth of orders and commitments at the Paris Air Show, where the popularity of its new fuel-efficient jets twice broke records for the largest order ever.
Airbus’ success cast a long shadow over Chicago-based Boeing, which recorded only US$22 billion in orders and commitments and raised questions over the US planemaker’s ability to compete in a market dominated by concerns over high fuel prices.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes signed off Thursday on a US$18.5 billion order for 200 of Airbus’ new A320neo aircraft, which has proven to be the star of the aviation industry’s premier event.
The order is the largest ever, eclipsing the previous record set on Wednesday by another A320neo customer, Asian carrier IndiGo. Airlines often negotiate discounts on large deals.
The recipe to Airbus’ gains over Boeing is deceptively simple. It modified its existing workhorse jet, the A320, with improved engines and modified wingtips to make it allegedly 15 percent more fuel-efficient than Boeing’s 737.
The plane will only start delivering in 2015, but Airbus is using it now to cash in on airlines’ need to reduce sky-high fuel costs and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
Airbus’ Enders said the A320neo was now “by far the best-selling airliner in the history of commercial aviation.”
The company has more than 1,000 orders or commitments for the plane, including 667 during the air show’s first four days.
Airbus’ success increases the pressure on its US rival to respond to the challenge with either a revamped version of its own 737 or an entirely new aircraft. Boeing says it will make that decision in the coming months.
It played down the orders rivalry, saying it doesn’t keep deals in reserve just to announce them at air shows. It recorded orders and commitments for 142 aircraft worth US$22 billion at catalog prices during the show. That includes a commitment from an undisclosed customer for it’s hulking new 747-8 Intercontinentals worth US$4.7 billion.
At this pace, Airbus looks likely to retain its position as industry leader for a fourth year running. Last year, it took in orders for 574 new aircraft worth US$74 billion at list prices, more than Boeing’s 530.
The biggest orders for Airbus planes this week have come from the fast-growing countries in Asia and the Middle East.
Besides AirAsia and IndiGo, Airbus also nabbed orders and commitments from the US airline JetBlue and Garuda of Indonesia.
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