Paris Air Show: Airbus Dominates With $21B in Deals While Boeing Retreats From Spotlight

At the 2025 Paris Air Show, Airbus made headlines with a commanding performance, racking up more than $21 billion in aircraft deals as of midweek. Its U.S. rival, Boeing, in contrast, took a notably quiet approach, avoiding new order announcements in the aftermath of last week’s Air India crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The Paris Air Show, one of the aviation industry’s most prominent stages, is typically where aircraft manufacturers unveil blockbuster orders following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations. This year, however, the tone has been more subdued. Nonetheless, Airbus has managed to stand out with a flurry of activity that reinforces its market dominance.

Airbus Lands Big Deals Across Categories

Airbus’ momentum included major firm orders from STARLUX, LOT Polish Airlines, ANA, and AviLease, along with a significant memorandum of understanding with VietJet Air for 150 A321neo aircraft.

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus

By Wednesday, the last day of trading at the show, Airbus had secured 148 firm orders worth $14.2 billion, along with 102 provisional orders valued at $6.7 billion, according to Reuters and data from Cirium Ascend.

Among the most significant wins was an agreement with Taiwan’s STARLUX for 10 A350s, a boost to Airbus’ long-haul ambitions.

Photo: Courtesy of Airbus

EgyptAir was also revealed as the previously undisclosed buyer of six A350-900 jets, while logistics operator MNG Airlines signed on for two A350 freighters.

While rumors swirled about a massive AirAsia deal, CEO Tony Fernandes downplayed expectations for a show-stopping announcement. He told Reuters the airline is in talks to purchase between 50 and 70 A321XLRs and 100 A220s or Embraer E2 jets, but that finalizing the deal will take at least another month.

Fernandes also told CNBC that AirAsia is actively evaluating an expansion of its existing A321XLR order, calling the aircraft “ideal for mid- to long-haul routes at reduced operating costs.”

Boeing Focuses Elsewhere Amid Crisis

While Airbus shined, Boeing maintained a discreet presence, opting not to announce any new orders during the event. The decision follows the tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash—the first-ever fatal accident involving the Dreamliner—which led Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg to cancel his planned attendance.

“Muted” became the word of the week, as analysts noted Boeing’s continued strategic retreat from air show theatrics. “It has been a very different air show from those we have seen in the past, which have tended to be wall-to-wall aircraft orders,” Sash Tusa, analyst at Agency Partners, told Reuters. “Civil orders have been affected by Boeing being very careful about how they announce or don’t announce things.”

Photo: Paris Air Show 2025. Courtesy of Rémy Michelin

Still, Boeing’s silence does not signal weak demand. The company recently locked in a 210-jet deal with Qatar Airways during U.S. President Trump’s Middle East visit and continues to work through its vast backlog of more than 5,000 aircraft—second only to Airbus’ estimated 8,000-unit order book.

Industry insiders maintain that the overall demand for new aircraft remains strong. “Demand for new aircraft remains unprecedented, matched only by passenger demand for air travel,” Tony Payne, partner at law firm DLA Piper, told CNBC, noting that the recent crash has cast a “sombre and reflective” tone over the show.

Dan Taylor of aviation consultancy IBA echoed this sentiment, telling CNBC the contrast between the two manufacturers was “more about context than competition.” He emphasized Boeing’s current priorities: “This isn’t a sign of weakening demand, but rather a deliberate pause amid a volatile geopolitical backdrop.”

Embraer and Airbus Score Major Wins

Amid the quieter atmosphere, regional aircraft deals continued to make headlines. Embraer secured a blockbuster order from SkyWest Airlines for up to 110 E175 regional jets.

The deal includes 60 firm orders and 50 purchase rights, with 16 aircraft already committed to Delta Air Lines routes, replacing older CRJ models. Valued at approximately $3.6 billion, the order reinforces SkyWest’s leadership in the North American regional market.

Photo: Courtesy of Embraer

Embraer’s CEO, Arjan Meijer, described the E175 as “the backbone of North American regional aviation,” while SkyWest’s CEO, Chip Childs, celebrated the deal’s strategic alignment with future flying agreements and operational goals.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be the first airline in Japan to operate the Embraer E-Jet E2 family. The airline secured a firm order for 15 units on the first day of the show.

Photo: Courtesy of Aviation Wire Japan

Also grabbing attention was LOT Polish Airlines, which announced an order for up to 84 Airbus A220s, including 40 firm orders—20 each of the A220-100 and A220-300 variants—and 44 options. Deliveries are expected between 2027 and 2032, marking a major shift in LOT’s regional fleet strategy. “It was over a year ago when we started to work on this project,” said LOT CEO Michał Fijoł during a press conference.

On the widebody front, Riyadh Air—Saudi Arabia’s newest carrier—finalized a significant long-haul order for 25 Airbus A350-1000s, with 25 additional options. The move solidifies Riyadh Air’s aspirations to become a major global player and reinforces the continued growth of the A350 program.

A Market of Restraint, Not Recession

Despite the more measured tone, the 2025 Paris Air Show reflected robust fundamentals in the aviation sector. Supply chain constraints continue to plague both Airbus and Boeing, particularly around engines, but Airbus said it has seen 40 percent fewer delays in component deliveries since the beginning of the year.

Photo: Paris Air Show 2025. Courtesy of Anthony Guerra

Air Lease Corp CEO John Plueger explained to CNBC that the current order environment was expected to be less frenetic. “Both Airbus and Boeing are all sold out to 2031 and ’32 anyway,” he said. “So how many follow-on orders into the ’33, ’34, ’35 time frame are you really going to see?”

Looking Ahead

While Boeing chose reflection over promotion, and Airbus maintained its trajectory with strategic wins, both manufacturers are bracing for long-term growth against the backdrop of continued passenger demand, fleet renewal needs, and emerging market opportunities.

The 2025 Paris Air Show may have been subdued, but it left no doubt: the race for global skies is far from grounded.