Photo taken on June 23, 2011 shows the Solar Impulse, a Swiss solar-powered plane during the biennial International Paris Air Show in Paris. Solar Impulse, the Swiss solar-powered aircraft, finally arrived in Paris on Tuesday after three days' delay. [Xinhua]
Clouds in Paris skies over the 49th Air Show in Le Bourget receded Friday after aerospace industry players bagged streams of orders halfway through the air show that kicked off on Monday.As prosperous demand, notably from emerging markets, signaled industrial rebound, green flights shaping the industry's future development also left its mark during this year's gala.
BIG HARVEST FOR INDUSTRY PLAYERS
The 49th Paris Air Show, known as the oldest and most reputed air show in the world, will last until Sunday, with most orders settled in the first four days and the next three days opening for the general public.
Without much surprise, the top two commercial aircraft giants, European aircraft maker Airbus and Boeing from the United States, dominated the fair.
On the opening day of the week-long event, the two companies garnered contracts and commitments for 140 A320neo from Airbus and 46 aircraft from Boeing with a total worth of about 26 billion U.S. dollars.
In 2009, Airbus, favored by its home field, only gained one contract of 24 A320s on the first day of the 48th Paris Air Show.
Through the first four days this week, Airbus took in about 72.2 billion U.S. dollars' worth of business for a total of 730 aircraft, setting a new record for any commercial aircraft manufacturer at any air show ever.
Boeing recorded orders and commitments for 142 airplanes, with a total value of over 22 billion U.S. dollars at list prices.
Though outshined by its European rival, Boeing confirmed the orders as "evidence of the market's continuing recovery."
Meanwhile, new entrants from Brazil, China, Canada and Russia have also taken on to get their share of the market, though their bites are small to make a dent.
Montreal-based Bombardier announced Friday that it has received an order for 10 of its new generation CS100 regional jets from an unnamed European carrier, valued at approximately 628 million U.S. dollars at list prices, adding to a Letter of Intent from Korean Air for up to 30 CSeries aircraft during the Show.
Russia's SuperJet won a single 12-plane deal, Brazil's Embraer got orders for 39 E-190 regional jets, and China's Commercial Aircraft Corp., the newest entrant signed a cooperation contract with Irish budget airline Ryanair on trunkliner C919 without firm orders.
Previous Boeing estimates said that airlines would order about 23,370 narrow-body aircraft, worth about 2,000 billion U.S. dollars, over the next 20 years. Brisk business at Paris Air Show is likely leading to a promising future.
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