ORDERS, CONVERSIONS, LETTER OF INTENTS and more
www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-paris-air-show-2019-order-tracker-update-459019/
BOEING
IAG and Boeing stole the show at the end of the second day of the Paris air show with a surprise 200-strong commitment for the 737 Max.
Boeing secured its first order for the Max since the aircraft was grounded in April. It was thought orders for the type would be unlikely at the show, given it is still to return to service.
But in a dramatic late afternoon development IAG held a press conference with Boeing to announce a letter of intent for 200 aircraft – a mix -8s and 10s. Powered by CFM International Leap-1B engines, the jets would be delivered between 2023 and 2027, says IAG.
The group says it envisions that the aircraft would be used by a number of its airlines, including Vueling, Level and British Airways. It specifies that the UK carrier would operate the aircraft from London Gatwick airport.
Boeing had earlier detailed its first order commitments from the show as Korean Air signed a letter of intent to take 30 Boeing 787s in order to modernise its long-haul fleet.
The Seoul-based carrier has committed to ordering 10 787-9s plus 10 Dreamliners of the -10 variant. A further 10 787-10s will be supplied to Korean by Air Lease.
The lessor has itself committed to purchasing five more Boeing 787-9s.
AIRBUS
IAG carriers Iberia and Aer Lingus signed for up to 28 of the type. It says the deal features 14 firm aircraft – eight for Iberia and six for Aer Lingus – plus 14 options.
Saudia is ordering a further 30 Airbus A320neo-family jets of which half will be the new long-range A321XLR variant. The airline disclosed three years ago that it was taking 35 A320neo-family jets, including A321neos.
But Airbus says it is expanding this agreement to a total of 65 firm aircraft, of which 15 are the A321XLR. Thirty-five further optioned aircraft mean Saudia is committing to as many as 100 A320neo-family jets.
Cebu Pacific of the Philippines is committing to purchase 16 Airbus A330-900s, as part of a package which also includes 10 of the new A321XLR and five A320neos.
The airline is to configure the A330neos with 460 seats in an all-economy layout. The agreement also includes options on 10 A321neos.
US operator Delta Air Lines has become the first to select the higher maximum take-off weight version of the Airbus A220, as it expands its orders for the twinjet by another five.
AirAsia has become the largest customer for the Airbus A321neo after converting 253 of its A320neo orders to the larger variant. Following the upsizing, 353 of a total of 593 A320-family aircraft the carrier has on order will be for the A321neo.
ATR, Embraer and DHC
In the regional sector ATR unveiled letter of intent from lessor NAC for up to 105 turboprops. The regional aircraft lessor specialist will commit to 35 firm aircraft, another 35 options and has also taken purchase rights on a further 35.
Spanish regional carrier Binter has exercised its two purchase rights on Embraer 195-E2s while Japan's Fuji Dream Airlines has emerged as a customer for two more E175s. The Fuji Dream Airlines aircraft were previously logged in Embraer’s backlog attributed to an undisclosed customer.
Air Antilles has ordered two Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otters to replace ageing turboprops in its fleet.
It means order commitment activity, driven by the IAG Max commitment, bounced back after a quiet first day.
Only Farnborough last year had more than the 483 commitments announced today for a second day of the show. Of these 83 are firm orders, another 119 are options and, in stark contrast to Farnborough last year, none are for undisclosed customers.
