LE BOURGET, France — Airbus is trouncing Boeing in the race to be the world’s biggest planemaker, claiming more than $72 billion worth of orders and commitments at the Paris Air Show, where the popularity of its new fuel-efficient jets twice broke records for the largest order ever.
The success of the European company cast a long shadow over Chicago- based Boeing, which recorded $22 billion in orders and commitments, and raised questions over the U.S. planemaker’s ability to compete in a market dominated by concerns over high fuel prices.
Airbus chief executive Tom Enders and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes signed off Thursday on an $18.5 billion order for 200 of Airbus’ new A320neo aircraft, which has been the star of the aviation industry’s premier event.
The order is the largest ever, eclipsing the previous record, set Wednesday by another A320neo customer, Asian carrier IndiGo. Airlines often negotiate discounts on large deals.
The recipe for Airbus’ gains over Boeing is deceptively simple. It modified its existing workhorse jet, the A320, with improved engines and modified wingtips to make it supposedly 15 percent more fuel-efficient than Boeing’s 737.
The plane will start delivering in 2015, but Airbus is using it now to cash in on airlines’ need to reduce fuel costs and cut carbon-dioxide emissions.
Airbus’ Enders said the A320neo was now “by far the best-selling airliner in the history of commercial aviation.” The company has more than 1,000 orders or commitments, including 667 during the air show’s first four days.
