An overview shot of the Paris Air Show. Photo by Jason Rabinowitz / Airchive.com.
As expected, the Paris Air Show 2013 started off with announcements from aircraft manufacturers and airlines. Here’s just some of what happened on Monday & Tuesday:
- Embraer officially launched their next-generation E-Jets, to be called E-Jets E2, with two significant orders. US Regional SkyWest Airlines ordered 100 of the 80-seat E-175 E2 jets, and have purchase rights for another 100 planes. Mega-leasing company International Leasing Finance Company (ILFC) signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 25 each of the E-190 E2 and E-195 E2 jets. They have options to double the order. SkyWest is the launch airline, and will get their new E-175 E2s in 2020. The E-190 E2 will be delivered much earlier, starting in 2018.
- Bombardier Aerospace announced that a previously-confirmed order for 10 CS100s is held by Odyssey Airlines, which plans to operate from the 4,900 ft runway at London City Centre Airport. (LCY).
The Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner lands while the Airbus A400 takes its position. Image by Jason Rabinowitz / Airchive.com.
- Viking Air announced a sale of an additional 7 DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otters to Moscow-based Vityaz Avia Corporation, which brings the total purchased by Vityaz to 11 planes. This is the largest non-military order for the new Twin Otter, to date.
- Lufthansa continues to add to their large fleet of Airbus jets, with a confirmed order for another 100 planes. The order is mixed – 35 A320NEOs, 35 A321NEOs, and 30 current A320s with Sharklets. (Airbus’ version of winglets).
- Easyjet went with Airbus for their latest order, converting 35 A320 options from a previous deal to firm orders, and adding 100 A320NEOs. They also have options for an additional 100 A320NEOs. Easyjet says that they also considered the 737 MAX and the CS300, but I’m sure Airbus made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
- Airbus also announced orders from ILFC for another 50 planes from the A320NEO family. ILFC is Airbus’ largest customer, having ordered 769 single-aisle and widebody aircraft.
- The A380 mega-jet had some action on the first day of the show. Leasing company Doric Lease Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 20 aircraft.
- Leasing companies are just as busy at PAS13 as the airlines – Danish company Nordic Aviation ordered 35 ATR series turboprops, and added 55 options to the deal.
- Not to be left out, Boeing confirmed that Qatar Airways was the previously undisclosed customer for 2 777-300ERs. Qatar also made a commitment for an additional 7 777-300ERs, adding to their fleet of 35 planes from the 777 family.
- Korean Air is also adding to their fleet of 90 Boeing aircraft, with an order for 5 747-8s and 6 777-300ERs. I’m sure that Boeing was really happy to get additional orders for the 747-8. Korean Air is the only airline, so far, to order both the passenger and freighter version of the 747-8.
- Boeing officially launched the 787-10 double-stretch Dreamliner with 102 orders and commitments. I’m thinking that the 787-10 shares the look of one of my favorite planes, the 757-200. Bigger, yes, but great proportions. What do you think?
If all of these aircraft orders and commitments are all delivered, the deals are worth somewhere around $80 billion. Not bad for a couple of day’s work. Let’s see what happens during the rest of the week.
Of course the airshow has quite a bit going on, so what other things have you seen that we missed that you feel are big deals?
CHECK OUT MORE COVERAGE (AND PHOTOS) OF PAS13 VIA AIRCHIVE.COM
 |
This story written by… Howard Slutsken, Correspondent. Howard has been an AvGeek since he was a kid, watching TCA Super Connies, Viscounts and early jets at Montreal’s Dorval Airport. He’s a pilot who loves to fly gliders and pretty well anything else with wings. Howard is based in Vancouver, BC.@HowardSlutsken |
Comments are closed here.