Airbus scores crushing home win in Paris

In the long-running battle for aviation supremacy, Airbus has dealt a further blow to Boeing with a comprehensive victory at the Paris Air Show 2009. On home turf the European planemaker trounced its US rival with US$12.9 billion worth of commercial aircraft orders from the likes of Qatar Airways, China Eastern Airlines, AirAsia, Cebu Pacific and Vietnam Airlines. By contrast, Boeing’s commercial order book from last week’s show totalled an estimated just under US$2 billion*.

But the result was never in doubt. For all Airbus’ problems with its A380 delays, Boeing has made them look positively punctual in comparison with the Dreamliner’s tardiness. That was last year’s battle, and the talk of the Paris Air Show 2009 was the new Airbus A350, due for release in 2013. And how did Boeing say it would compete with this? A new, sleek, double-decker jumbo which cuts hours off journey times? Alas no. It will use its 14 year-old 777, with a slightly remodelled wing.

Let’s put this into context, using my favourite analogical medium; football. Boeing’s performance in Paris was like Real Madrid turning up for a crucial fixture in Barcelona without their multi-million dollar new signings, Ronaldo and Kaka, who have suffered long-term injury setbacks. Instead, they asked the ageing Raul to lead the front line. Not that Raul’s a bad player, but he’s getting on in years, and just doesn’t have that ‘wow’ factor, which would have boosted Real’s prestige and confidence. The result? A crushing 6-1 win for the reigning European champions Barca, with their existing wealth of big-name stars. (My apologies to any Real fans reading this - no offence intended).

Having been beaten by Airbus in the annual delivery race for the past six consecutive years, Boeing knows it has now fallen even further behind its European rival, and at a crucial time. With airlines tightening their belts and ordering fewer planes, Boeing cannot afford to see its share of an ever-dwindling market reduced further. As for Airbus, well a celebratory open-top bus ride may be stretching things, but there may be a little post-match champagne flowing in company HQ.
 
* Financial details of Turkish Airlines’ order for seven B777-300ERs were unavailable, but TDA estimates the value to be in the region of US$1.85 billion at list prices.