Boeing vs. Airbus: Dog Fight at Paris Air Show

by ryan | June 19, 2007 at 12:18 pm | 620 views | 2 comments

UPDATE: Check out the new photos from our correspondent at the Air Show Alain.

Airplanes and their makers are getting much attention as the world descends on the Paris Air Show. Everything from the age old rivalry between Boeing and Airbus to the environmental concerns surrounding air travel are hot topics this year.

PARIS (Reuters) - Boeing's top commercial airplanes executive on Tuesday dismissed a $45 billion order blitz unveiled by rival Airbus as the Paris air show awaited a potential $8 billion order for the Boeing 787.

European planemaker Airbus hit the ground running at the start of the week long Le Bourget air show with firm orders for 219 planes including more than 114 of its revamped A350 model, which still remains far behind sales of the 787.

Airbus's record haul of 339 plane orders or commitments on Monday, exceeding an air show peak seen in 2005, includes 219 firm orders and 120 provisional ones worth a total $45.7 billion at list prices, the European firm said on Monday.

Airbus is battling to close the gap on Boeing after initially misjudging demand for twin-jet airliners like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is due to enter service next year and has already attracted customers for almost 600 jets.

In a further boost for Boeing, two industry executives said the U.S. planemaker would announce an order for 50 787 Dreamliners from U.S. leasing giant ILFC on Tuesday.