PARIS AIRSHOW NEWS
JUNE 21, 2023
DAY 3
AINONLINE.COM EVTOLS Paris to be first
Commercial aircraft took the Paris stage as airline orders surged.
Next year’s Olympic Games may see the first paying passengers in an eVTOL aircraft | 06
OEMS Boom progress Supersonic aircraft developer sees light at the end of development tunnel | 08
DAVID McINTOSH
DEFENSE Special missions
AIRLINES PILE ON THE ORDERS by Cathy Buyck Just two days into the welcome return of the Paris Airshow, airframers are once again finding the event a happy hunting ground for new airliner orders. Much of the new business has come from carriers in Asia and the Pacific Rim, where the post-Covid travel bounceback is prompting fleet expansion. The pressing need to replace older aircraft with less fuel-thirsty models has proved to be another driver of deals signed here this week. Air India signed the largest contract, for up to 290 new
Boeing jets and 250 Airbus aircraft. Not to be outdone by Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo’s 500-ship order with Airbus on Monday, the flag carrier revealed its selection to renew and expand its fleet with letters of intent signed in February. The Boeing purchase includes 190 of its 737 Max, twenty 787s, and ten 777Xs with options for 50 more 737 Max jets and twenty 787s. Air India’s Airbus buy includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 widebody jets. Airbus firmed an incremental order with Qantas for nine
Gulfstream business jets are gaining popularity as military systems platforms | 22
AIRLINES Lively livery See Riyadh Air’s possible paint job on a Boeing 787 at the Paris Airshow static display | 27
airshow reports GET THE LATEST AIRSHOW NEWS!
continues on page 29
We’re building new roads in the sky. Learn more at www.supernal.aero