Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier Announces $14 billion in Orders at Farnborough Airshow

Interior of a Boeing 737-800

The world’s three largest passenger-jet manufacturers, Airbus, Boeing, and Bombardier, announced multiple new orders with a value of as much as $14 billion at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Prior to the official start of the show, Boeing announced an order for 23 737 Max aircraft from Virgin Australia and, on the first day, announced a $7 billion order for that aircraft type from Air Lease Corporation.  This was followed by two separate deals for 737s, with the Kuwait airplane leasing company Alafco and GE Capital Aviation Services.

Alafco announced a commitment for 20 737 Max 8 aircraft with a value of $1.9 billion based on current list prices.  Alafco previously purchased six Boeing 737-800s in March 2007, and took delivery of the final aircraft in July 2011.

Meanwhile, GE Capital Aviation Services announced it will purchase 75 737 Max 8s and 25 Next Generation 737 800s to complement its existing fleet.

Airbus received additional orders for its new A350 wide-bodied jetliner, which will compete with the Boeing 787.  Cathay Pacific said it will order ten new A350-1000 jets and that it will change 16 of its 36 previously ordered A350-900s into orders for the larger A350-1000 models in a deal valued at $4.2 billion.

Bombardier announced that Air Baltic, the Latvian flag carrier, will order up to 20 CSeries jets to replace Boeing 737 Classic jetliners starting in 2015.  The deal is worth $764 million and could grow to $1.57 billion if Air Baltic exercises options for additional aircraft.

(Photo: Jonathan Spira)