Airbus enjoys quiet revival at Farnborough

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2006

FARNBOROUGH, England (AFP) — Jets may have roared overhead at the Farnborough International Airshow this week, but deal-making on the ground was far calmer for aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing.

One of the key events in the aerospace calendar has nonetheless enabled European planemaker Airbus to regain some credibility amid production problems with its future A380 superjumbo and the need to redesign its mid-sized A350.

Four days into the week-long Farnborough show, in southern England, Airbus had secured 114 firm orders and intentions of purchase worth 9.6 billion dollars (7.6 billion euros), compared with 28 aircraft orders totalling 5.7 billion dollars for US rival Boeing.

Further deals may be made before the show ends on Sunday, but a vast wave would be...