The Paris Air Show kicked off at Le Bourget Airport on 19 June as the aerospace industry descends on Paris for the first time since 2019. This year’s show will feature large commercial aircraft orders, demonstrations of new technologies coming to market, and a focus on defense and military hardware due to the continuing war in Ukraine. Follow along with our daily wrap up of orders and other news from the 2023 Paris Air Show.
Day 1 — 19 June
IndiGo and Airbus began the Paris Air Show the largest single commercial aircraft order in history. IndiGo placed a firm order for 500 A320neo family aircraft, bringing its total A320neo family orders over 1,200. The Indian low cost carrier’s orders now account for approximately 13% of the total A320neo family order book, including the A320neo and A321neo.
Air Mauritius will add a trio of A350s to their existing quartet as it looks to expand services to Europe and South Asia.
Day 1 flying displays
Following the flying displays on Flightradar24 might be a bit confusing as it looks more like a Formula 1 race than an air show. Le Bourget is close enough to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport that aircraft participating in the flying display at the air show operate with their transponders in “Altitude Reporting Off” mode to avoid creating a traffic collision alert with aircraft operating at CDG. You can view playback of the A321XLR, 737-10, and 777-9 flights.
Award for best drone use
To coincide with its display at the Paris Air Show, Boeing released a video showcasing the massive 777-9 inside and out using a drone. The video gives you a better appreciation for just how large the aircraft actually is.
Day 2 — 20 June
Day two of the Paris Air Show included a lot of finality as airlines finalized multiple previously announced orders. The largest by far is Air India’s order for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. The airline will take 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo jets plus six A350-900 and 34 A350-1000 from Airbus. Boeing will supply 190 737 MAXs, 20 787, and 10 777X aircraft, with options for 50 additional 737 MAX and 20 787s.
Further, on the Airbus side of the show Philippine Airlines firmed an order for nine A350-100s and Qantas adds nine A220s to its order book. At the Boeing chalet, China Airlines ordered eight 787s, Air Algérie will take eight 737 MAX and a pair of 737-800BCF, and lessor Avolon announced an order for 40 737 MAX.
Boeing also launched its Sustainable Aviation Fuel Dashboard to track and project the availability of sustainable aviation fuel production. The Boeing SAF Dashboard is a part of Boeing’s new Sustainable Aerospace Together hub, which is also part of Cascade, Boeing’s Climate Impact Model that can be used to forecast aviation decarbonization pathways. We’re proud to say that Flightradar24 data helps power Cascade.
Embraer also announced orders from existing customers Binter Canarias for six additional E195-E2s and American Airlines ordered seven E175s to place with regional carrier Envoy Air flying under the American Eagle brand.
Scenes from Paris Air Show Day 2
Day 3 — 21 June
The third day of the Paris Air Show was much quieter, with Boeing and Airbus notching incremental orders from lessors and airlines. Boeing, however, finally has a European launch customer for the 737-7 MAX, the smallest MAX variant. Luxembourg’s Luxair ordered four 737-7s adding to their previously ordered four 737-8s. Indian start-up carrier added another four 737-8s to their order book.
Lessor activity saw Avolon follow its Day 2 737 MAX order with a Memorandum of Understanding for 20 Airbus A330neos and Air Lease picked up a pair of Boeing 787s.
Airbus also announced the winner of its A350 Freighter livery competition. The winning design by John Feehan and brothers Quinnten and Ellisten Iversen will be painted on the first A350F ahead of its first flight in 2025.
