At last week’s Dubai Air Show, Airbus claimed supremacy in the commercial jet market, saying it is selling more jets than Boeing, its longtime rival. Boeing, however, was not so willing to move over to the No. 2 slot. While Boeing did not dispute that Airbus has more orders so far this year — 263 vs. 216 — a spokesman said it’s the longer term that counts. “We are not concerned about one downturn year,” Boeing’s Randy Baseler told the Associated Press. Airbus touted its 555-seat A380 at the show, while Boeing said the market is limited for such unwieldy big aircraft, and the future is in smaller jets. Airbus countered that it is “making civil aviation history,” with 129 orders for the jumbo jet already in hand. Deals worth about $7.5 billion were made at the Dubai show, including a $3 billion order from Qatar for Airbus aircraft.
Airbus, Boeing, And The Crown
Key Takeaways:
- Airbus claimed market supremacy over rival Boeing at the Dubai Air Show, citing higher year-to-date orders (263 vs. 216), a claim Boeing dismissed by emphasizing long-term performance.
- The two companies presented differing market strategies, with Airbus promoting its A380 jumbo jet and Boeing favoring smaller aircraft.
- Significant deals were made at the show, totaling about $7.5 billion, including a $3 billion order for Airbus aircraft from Qatar.
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