Paris Air Show Day 2: Airline awards, more aircraft orders ahead
Last update: 2:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 16.
Le BOURGET, France -- Boeing won an order Tuesday that -- so far -- remains the biggest of this year's Paris Air Show.
The deal for 100 Boeing 737s from Dutch aircraft leasing company AerCap came amid a new round of aircraft orders Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, the 2015 World Airline Awards by SkyTrax were released on the second day of the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, with Qatar Airways winning the award as the world's top airline.
Tuesday also saw aerial flight displays from some of the world's most-modern passenger jets, including Boeing's Dreamliner, Airbus' A350 and Bombardier's CS 300. (photos above).
Some of the show's morning events were disrupted as a Parisian taxi strike delayed the arrival of many visitors, including some top aviation officials. Trip times of up to two hours were reported to the show from both central Paris and from Charles de Gaulle Airport -- each roughly 15 miles from the Le Bourget airfield that hosts the show.
Among Tuesday's highlights:
- Leasing company AerCap's order for 100 737MAX-8 would be worth about to $10.7 billion at list prices, though significant discounts are common on such orders.
- Boeing also racked up 737 orders from several carriers not well known in North America. Among those: Indonesia's Sriwijaya Air ordered two 737-900s while Chinese low-cost carrier Rulli Airlines announced plans for 30 737 MAX aircraft. Also Irish aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 10 737 MAX-8s.
- Ireland-based leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 10 737 MAX-8 jets.
- In news from beyond the air show, Russian carrier Aeroflot announced it would cancel its order for Boeing 787s as economic troubles persist in Russia, The Associated Press reported.
- Airbus landed an order for three A320 jets from Peach Aviation.
- Korean Air split an order for narrowbody jets between Boeing and Airbus. The carrier placed a firm order for 30 Airbus A321neo planes, marking the first time Korean Air has bought single-aisle aircraft from Airbus. But Korean Air also said it intended to buy 30 737 MAX-8 planes and two 777-300ER widebodies.
On Monday, the show's opening day, the Boeing-Airbus rivalry and a performance display by Bombardier's CS 300 were among the top stories.
Blockbuster orders for new planes have highlighted previous airshows, though 2015 was predicted to be a slow year. Still, several significant orders punctuated the show's first day.
Among the highlights:
- Airbus received a firm order for 60 single-aisle jets from aircraft leasing firm GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The deal would be worth $6.6 billion at list prices, though discounts are typical on such orders.
- Indonesian carrier Garuda signed letters of intent with both Boeing and Airbus for a combined 90 jets, though some observers expressed skepticism that the carrier would convert all of those to firm orders. Regardless, Garuda told Boeing it intended to buy 30 737 MAX jets and 30 787-9 Dreamliners. Garuda did the same with Airbus for 30 wide-body A350s.
- Boeing also landed a 14-plane order from Qatar Airways, which announced a firm order for 10 passenger Boeing 777s and four freighter versions of the 777.
- Bombardier's new CS Series planes made their debut at the Paris Air Show, with the CS 300 flying in the show's signature aerial displays. Bombardier had not yet won any new orders for its CS 100 or 300 at the Paris Air Show, but analysts say the C Series' appearance at the show is a major step in the right direction for Bombardier's long-delayed model.
While additional orders will trickle in Tuesday, few expect the blockbuster orders that had become hallmarks of the airshows in Paris and Farnborough in recent years. The Paris and Farnborough shows alternate hosting duties each year.
In 2014, Airbus won orders or commitments for 486 aircraft that would be valued at $75 billion at list prices, according to a tally from The Associated Press. At the same show, Boeing received commitments for 201 aircraft worth $40.2 billion at list prices.