ADVERTISEMENTThe Paris Air Show is getting underway at Le Bourget with traditional rivals Airbus and Boeing both buoyant about new orders – and new manufacturers hoping to get in on the act.
Canada, China and Russia are all present at the show with new planes they hope will take market share.
Amid a drive towards long haul low-cost travel, much of the demand for new planes is expected to come from Asia and the Middle East.
The industry’s showpiece event is described as the biggest ever, with more than 2,000 exhibitors.
US planemaker Boeing is expected to announce up to 100 orders for its new lightweight 787 Dreamliner.
The company says the plane can travel longer distances than other mid-sized aircraft and is relatively fuel efficient.
But persistent technical faults led to all Dreamliners being grounded earlier this year, and Boeing will be anxious to prove that its problems have been overcome.
Europe’s Airbus is also out to make an impact on home soil, three days after its new A350 made its maiden flight.
The plane’s low noise is a major selling point; the company’s sales chief John Leahy said people living near airports would not even know it was taking off.