The world’s biggest air show continued yesterday with European plane maker Airbus expected to book more orders, including an anticipated deal with Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways.
Boeing was also scheduled to deliver an update on the status of its 787 jetliner on the second day of the Farnborough International Airshow.
The 787, touted by Boeing for its greater fuel-efficiency potential since it’s the first large jetliner to be built mostly from lighter, carbon-fiber composites, has been hampered by delays that have cost the Chicago-based company credibility and billions of dollars in expected additional costs and penalties.
Airlines from oil-rich Middle Eastern countries have so far saved the air show from an otherwise lackluster start, signing orders for around 150 planes worth more than US$25 billion on Monday.
With many European and US airlines expected to refrain from inking big deals as they cope with rocketing fuel prices and dampening passenger demand from the credit crunch, Middle Eastern carriers with the benefit of oil-backed sovereign wealth funds have stepped into the breach.
The biggest deal so far came from Etihad Airways, which split an order for 100 aircraft between Airbus and Boeing worth US$20 billion at list prices. The deal comprised 55 Airbus planes worth US$11 billion at list prices and 45 Boeing planes worth US$9 billion.
The recently launched low-cost airline FlyDubai also used the biennial show — it alternates with an event in Le Bourget in France — to announce an order for 50 Boeing planes worth around US$3.74 billion.
In a smaller deal, Saudi Arabian Airlines signed a contract with Airbus for eight planes worth US$1.6 billion.
At the Paris air show last year, 506 orders were taken between Airbus and Boeing. Credit Suisse said it expected around 200 to 300 orders to be announced at Farnborough.
Airbus chief salesman John Leahy said he would be disappointed if the firm didn’t book orders for 200 planes this week.
Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing’s Seattle-based commercial airplanes unit said on Monday that Boeing had not received any cancelations, although “a handful” of customers had asked to delay their purchase.
Almost 1,500 exhibitors from 35 countries are showing off the latest in aviation technology at Farnborough.
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