Biggest-ever airliner order marks first day of Paris Air Show

LE BOURGET, France — European aircraft maker Airbus got the Paris Air Show off to a soaring start with the announcement of the biggest-ever order for civil aircraft, as the French president joined a big crowd for the event's return after a four-year COVID hiatus.

The 500-plane deal with low-cost Indian carrier IndiGo kicked off what organizers have billed as the "recovery airshow" after the coronavirus ravaged the sector and the biennial trade fair was cancelled in 2021.

Fighter jets and civilian aircraft streaked across the sky while suited and uniformed delegations, including Ukrainian military officials and President Emmanuel Macron, toured the stands.

This year's airshow has a new focus on defense following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as the industry's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, with French President Emmanuel Macron arriving in a helicopter partly using sustainable aviation fuel.

Macron called for "restraint" to protect the environment but said measures for aviation should be "reasonable" rather than "punitive", adding that the world shouldn't "give up on growth".

Huge traffic jams around Le Bourget airport outside Paris were testament to the interest in this year's show, as aircraft makers field hundreds of orders and airlines brace for a near-record number of passengers this year.

The Ukraine conflict has also prompted countries to boost military spending, which could benefit aerospace defense firms.

While Russia has been excluded from the event, Ukrainian military officials toured the huge exhibition space at Paris-Le Bourget airport, some taking photos of missiles on display.

'PASSION FOR AIR HASN'T DISAPPEARED' 

Macron announced that Belgium is to be admitted as an observer to the French-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which is seeking to develop the next generation of air combat technology.

Macron, closing a ministerial conference on European air defense, called it a " major development".

The FCAS is due to come into service by 2040, but has already suffered numerous delays.

Also on the military front, Macron said that France, Estonia, Hungary, Belgium and Cyprus are to jointly purchase Mistral short-range surface-to-air missiles.

"This is a very fine example of sovereign cooperation between Europeans on a range that is entirely relevant and that was not sufficiently covered", the French leader said.

There were star turns for the Rafale fighter made by France's Dassault and the American F-35 jet, with hundreds of visitors turning their phone cameras skyward and some plugging their ears against the deafening flypasts.

Le Bourget offers a forum to announce deals with some 2,500 firms lining up to show off their latest planes, drones, helicopters and prototypes such as flying taxis.

With 125,000 square meters (1,350,000 square feet) of exhibition space -- the equivalent of nearly 18 football pitches -- around 320,000 visitors are expected during the week-long event.

"Passion for the air hasn't disappeared, that's good news," said Bertrand Godinot, easyJet's Netherlands and France director.

BIG DEALS 

Along with the Farnborough airshow in England, which takes place in even numbered years, Le Bourget is a key sales event for the civil and defense industries.

Airbus and rival Boeing compete fiercely in announcing orders for aircraft running into the billions of dollars.

Monday's IndiGo-Airbus deal covers A320 family planes at a list price of $55 billion.

Although closely held actual sale prices are usually lower, it marks the largest ever civil aviation order by volume, hailed by Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury as "an enormous milestone".

Airbus and Boeing are also battling to solidify supply chains as they increase production to meet growing demand.

The United States has a strong presence with 425 exhibitors, while firms from 46 other nations are present.

China, which lifted COVID restrictions only at the beginning of this year, is also represented.

However, Beijing is not displaying its first homegrown medium-haul passenger jet, the C919, built to compete with the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

FLYING TAXIS 

The airshow also hopes to open a window into the future as projects for flying taxis and other vertical take-off aircraft abound.

Several prototypes will be on display as part of a "Paris Air Mobility" exhibition to showcase the latest innovations that developers hope will change how people travel.

Macron arrived aboard Airbus' latest helicopter, the H160, in a flight fueled with 30 percent sustainable aviation fuel before visiting the European group's stand where it laid out its net-zero-by-2050 plan.

Macron had on Friday announced $2.2 billion to help develop technologies to reduce aircraft emissions.

Air travel accounts for nearly three percent of global CO2 emissions but serves only a small minority of the world's population.

With the industry targeting net zero emissions by mid-century, firms are turbocharging efforts to achieve it.

The initial focus is on SAF, made from sources such as municipal waste and agricultural waste.

But companies are also working to develop battery- and hydrogen-powered aircraft.

Agence France-Presse

Airbus chief eyes overtaking Boeing in production by 2018

BERLIN – Airbus chief Fabrice Bregier says the European planemaker will overtake its US rival Boeing to become the world’s biggest producer within four or five years, in an interview with a German Sunday newspaper.

Bregier told Welt am Sonntag that Airbus would step up production through its new A320Neo and long-haul A350 models.

“In 2017/2018 we will therefore again be able to gain the lead also in deliveries,” the Airbus chief executive said according to an extract of the interview to appear in German in Sunday’s edition.

Airbus will deliver more than 600 aircraft this year and more next year, he said, adding that in terms of orders, it would also beat its target. “2013 is becoming an excellent year for Airbus,” he commented.

Airbus last week announced a $9.5 billion deal with Japan Airlines, its first jet order from the carrier, challenging Boeing’s dominance in the Japanese market as it struggles with the troubled Dreamliner.

The fuel-efficient aircraft, marred by years of production delays, faced a global grounding order in January after lithium-ion batteries overheated on two different planes, with one of them catching fire while the aircraft was parked.

Bregier also criticized the comfort of the 787 Dreamliner, telling the Welt newspaper he had seen a cabin with nine seats in a row. “For me it’s clear that as a passenger I wouldn’t like to sit 12 hours long in there,” he said.

Referring to the Dreamliner’s technical problems, he said: “From my team I expect the commissioning of the A350 to run much smoother.”

Like Boeing’s Dreamliner, the Airbus A350 is to be made mainly of lightweight composite materials to save fuel, which can currently account for more than half of overall airline operating costs.

In November 2011, Airbus announced a six-month delay in the first delivery of the A350 to the first half of 2014. In July 2012, it said there would be another delay of about 3 months to the second half of the 2014.

source: buusiness.inquirer.net