The Paris Air Show begins with a record order from IndiGo in India
The largest single-aisle aeroplane contract ever, valued at several billion dollars, was obtained by Airbus.
On the first day of the Paris Air Show on Monday, as the industry’s supply chain issues and the high demand for jets and missiles competed for attention, Airbus announced a record 500-plane agreement with the Indian airline IndiGo.
The multibillion-dollar contract for single-aisle aircraft, which was the highest ever in terms of the quantity of aircraft, surpassed Air India’s earlier this year preliminary purchase of 470 Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
After the 2021 edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic, the largest air show in the world, which alternates with Farnborough in Britain, is in Le Bourget for the first time in four years.
Airbus’s newest plane, the A321XLR, and air power, notably the French Rafale fighter, were featured in a flying display that the French President Emmanuel Macron saw while travelling by helicopter to the crowded aerospace bazaar.
As airlines attempt to meet demand while also working to achieve industry targets of net zero emissions by 2050, planemakers entered the market with rising demand expectations.
In addition, suppliers are having trouble keeping up with demand due to growing costs, a lack of components, and a lack of competent workers in the wake of the epidemic.
The Ukraine crisis is looming large over the air show, and unlike the previous event four years ago, there is no Russian representation in the chalets or display halls.
Some Ukrainian government representatives and aerospace companies were anticipated at the event.
Despite disagreements amongst industrial partners over whether to expand the project, Belgium announced it will submit an application to participate as an observer in a new fighter-jet project that may serve as the eventual replacement for the Rafale and the international Eurofighter. The project, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), comprises collaboration between France, Germany, and Spain.
According to industry sources cited by Reuters news agency on Sunday, the planemaker is also close to a potentially significant order for narrow-body planes from Mexican low-cost airline Viva Aerobus.
They said that there were more than 100 planes under discussion, however on Monday, some sources claimed that the number in the final agreement may be closer to 60.
Boeing and Airbus have been engaged in a bitter war over the Mexican airline for a long time.
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