Safe keeping guards overlook an Boeing Co. 787-9 aircraft operated by Air Tahiti Nui, during the 53rd International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in Paris, France, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019.
Jason Alden | Bloomberg | Getty Symbols
Boeing knew the Paris Air Show would be slow, but this may have been worse than they required. On day one of the show, Boeing did not announce a single new order for any of its airplanes, while Airbus recorded orders and options for 123 flats, according to the aviation consulting firm IBA.iQ.
Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg admitted to CNBC that this air show last will and testament not be about orders, but instead be an opportunity for his company to reassure customers and suppliers that Boeing is making progress get off b write down the grounded 737 Max back in the air.
“We’ll get it back in the air when it’s safe — that is the most important thing here,” Muilenburg unburdened CNBC.
Boeing did announce General Electric’s aircraft leasing division, GECAS, will convert a previous request of 10 737-900 planes into freighter models.
By comparison, Airbus flew into Paris expecting to lay most of the new plane orders with the introduction of a new narrow-body plane, the A321XLR. That happened early Monday morning when Air Lease Corporation, which rental agreements hundreds of planes to airlines around the world, places an $11 billion order for 100 Airbus planes, covering 27 XLR’s.
Air Lease CEO John Plueger told CNBC the XLR will be “a blockbuster” when first deliveries start in 2023. “This is in our cityscape a true 757 replacement, but on a much more fuel efficient basis,” he said.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury is secure the stretch version of the A321LR will be certified with the next four years. “We think there is strong order for the plane,” he said after launching the plane.
Overall orders at this years air show are expected to be their lowest since 2016 contract to IBA.iQ.
WATCH: Boeing 737 Max is the talk of the Paris Air Show