Farnborough Day 3: Boeing, Bombardier, Airbus Report 150+ Orders at Airshow
The Farnborough International Airshow, which opened Monday, continued as tens of thousands of people, including airline executives and aircraft manufacturers, flocked to an airfield in rural England to see the aviation industry’s newest planes and place orders for them.
The biggest news Wednesday was Qatar Airways’ order for 50 Boeing 777X aircraft. The order includes the purchase rights for an additional 50 and the total value of the announcement is $37.7 billion at list prices. The planes will be powered by GE Aviation’s GE9X engines and the engine deal is valued at $3.8 billion.
Qatar also ordered four 777 freights with an option for four more. That deal is worth $2.4 billion.
On the Dreamliner front, Boeing announced a deal with MG Aviation, a leasing company owned by Jordache Enterprises, which also operates Arkia Israeli Airlines. The lessor finalized an order for two additional 787-9 Dreamliners, valued at $499 million, bringing the total number on order by MG to four.
Boeing also announced a deal with Hainan Airlines for 50 737 Max 8 jets. The deal is valued at over $5.1 billion and is subject to the approval of the Chinese government. Boeing says that the 737 Max 8 will have an operating cost that is 8% lower than its competitor, the Airbus A320neo.
Boeing also said that Air Algerie had ordered two next-generation 737-700Cs. The Algerian flag carrier’s order is valued at $152 million and follows an order in January for eight 737-800s. The 737-700C has a flexible layout that is convertible between all-passenger and all-cargo configurations.
Bombardier Aerospace also announced several orders from unidentified customers at the show.
An African airline that is an existing customer placed an order for five CSeries jets, valued at $365 million. The deal is the first order for the CSeries from an African airline.
Another existing customer ordered up to 13 CS300 aircraft. The deal includes seven firm orders and options on an additional six, with the firm order being valued at $553 million.
Airbus announced that Air Mauritius, the flag carrier of that nation, ordered six A350-900 aircraft. Four are to be purchased and the airline will also lease two more. The six planes will be operated on the airline’s European, Asian, and Australian routes. The A350 is Airbus’ all-new mid-size long-range jet, and, depending on the version, can seat anywhere from 276 to 369 passengers.
The Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer also announced the Quieter Flight Partnership, a program with British Airways, London Heathrow Airport, and air traffic services in the United Kingdom to reduce noise levels in the A380 jumbo jet, already considered the quietest long-haul aircraft flying
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
