PARIS, 18 June 2013. European aircraft manufacturer Airbus in Toulouse, France, came on strong Tuesday at the Paris Air Show by announcing 138 new aircraft sales, bringing the company's total announced aircraft sales over the first two days at Paris to 311.
Most of the Airbus sales have involved either current or future versions of the Airbus A320 single-aisle passenger jets. Among Airbus sales this year at Paris are 20 orders for the company's A380 super jumbo jet.
Airbus announced sales at Paris Tuesday included 100 orders for the Airbus A320neo (new engine option) from London-based bargain airline EasyJet, 35 orders for the Airbus A320ceo (current engine option) from EasyJet, and three orders for the A320neo from Tunisian carrier Syphax Airlines.
Even through Airbus announced big aircraft sales Tuesday, through two full days of the Paris Air Show South American aircraft manufacturer Embraer still is on top, notching total aircraft sales through Tuesday of 381.
The big news at the show for Embraer of São José Dos Campos, Brazil, was the introduction of a redesigned version of the company's E-Jets regional passenger jet family, named the E2, as well as orders for as many as 365 of the new jets from a variety of aircraft operators, and another 16 of the company's current E Jet version.
The big sales announcements by Airbus during the second day of Paris contribute to total aircraft sales during the show Monday and Tuesday, by rough count, to 949.
By close of business Tuesday aircraft sales announcements at the Paris Air Show totaled 381 for Embraer, 311 for Airbus, 90 from French passenger turboprop maker ATR, 65 for Canadian passenger and business aircraft maker Bombardier Aerospace, 63 for U.S. passenger aircraft maker Boeing Co., 31 for European helicopter maker AgustaWestland, and 17 for U.S. helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft.
Airbus had been expected to dominate sales announcements at Paris, and few had expected Embraer to lead aircraft sales through the first two days at the show.
Embraer's strong showing highlights the importance of small- and medium-sized regional passenger aircraft for the world aviation market. The Embraer E-Jets E2 aircraft family comprises three new commercial airplanes -- the E175-E2 that seats as many as 88 passengers, the E-190-E2 that seats as many as 106, and the E195-E2, which seats as many as 132 passengers.
Boeing officials have been downplaying expectations for the company's aircraft sales at Paris, which typically is dominated by Airbus. Boeing's international airshow strong showings usually are at the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England, staged in alternate years to the Paris show.
Boeing's big announcement this year at Paris so far has been the long-expected official introduction Tuesday of the company's 787-10 Dreamliner, the third member of the fuel-efficient 787 widebody passenger jet family.
Along with the 787-10's official unveiling Tuesday was an announcement by Boeing for 102 of the new airplanes from five customers across Europe, Asia, and North America.
The new 787-10 will fly as far as 7,000 nautical miles with seating for 300 to 330 passengers, depending on airline configuration. The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly in Everett, Wash., and is set to make its first flight later this year.
Boeing launch customers for the 787-10 include Air Lease Corp., with 30 airplanes; GE Capital Aviation Services with 10; International Airlines Group/British Airways with 12 subject to shareholder approval; Singapore Airlines with 30; and United Airlines with 20 airplanes. Not all these orders were announced first at Paris.
Thus far at Paris all of Boeing's announced aircraft sales have been for widebody long-range passenger jetliners, including versions of the company's 787, 777, and 747 jumbo jets. The Boeing 737 MAX, the company's fuel-efficient answer to the Airbus A320neo in the single-aisle fuel-efficient market has kept a low profile so far at Paris.
For more information contact the Paris Air Show online at www.paris-air-show.com.
