Story ID: 492
Airlines Double-down On Fleet Expansion and Replacement
By: Cathy Buyck
Caption: Airbus, ATR, Boeing, and Embraer all collected multiple aircraft orders on Tuesday at the Paris Airshow.
Word Count: 1000
Just two days into the welcome return of the Paris Air Show, 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 flagcarrier 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 Maxes 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 A220-300s, bringing the Australian carrier’s total backlog for the single-aisle type to 29 aircraft. Qantas chose the A220 as part of a major fleet replacement program announced in May 2022, which also included orders for the A321XLR and A350-1000. The carrier had announced its intention to order the additional A220s in February this year. Qantas will take delivery of its first A220 at the end of this year and operate the type primarily on its extensive domestic route network.
The manufacturer also finalized a memorandum of understanding agreed with Philippine Airlines in May for the purchase of nine A350-1000s. The airline will use the A350-1000s to replace its fleet of 777-300ERs. Airbus plans to start deliveries in the second half of 2025 and continue shipments into 2027, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international Christian Scherer said during a signing ceremony. The A350-1000s are part of the Philippine carrier’s ultra-long-haul fleet project and will fly on nonstop service from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. 
The new aircraft will join two A350-900s already in service at the airline. The aircraft will come equipped with 380 seats in a three-class layout, with a high-density 10-abreast configuration in economy. Stanley K. Ng, president and COO of Philippine Airlines, described the order as a “statement to our commitment to environmental sustainability." 
Expanding its capacity to take advantage of rising post-Covid international travel, China Airlines exercised options to add eight Boeing 787s to its fleet. That came as part of an agreement for 16 of the widebodies signed last year, with the carrier only now identified as the customer. The deal announced on Tuesday will see China Airlines become the latest customer for the 787-10 as it converts options on six of the -9 variant.
Boeing said 787s are now selling faster than ever, with more than 250 orders and commitments logged in the past six months. AerCap announced on Tuesday it has signed a lease agreement with El Al for a pair of 787-9s.
Leasing group Avolon is back in the market for 737 Max narrowbodies for the first time since 2017, placing an order for 40 of the 737-8 model. CEO Andy Cronin said the deal aligns with its plan to offer a more fuel-efficient portfolio, explaining that its delivery pipeline now extends into the 2030s.
Air Algérie confirmed an order for eight 737-9 Max jets, swelling its fleet of the Boeing narrowbody family, which already includes 30 aircraft. The latest model will offer additional capacity, carrying up to 139 passengers, and fly to a range of 3,300 nm. The North African carrier also signed a memorandum of understanding for a pair of Boeing Converted Freighters.
Lessors Azorra and Avolon boosted Embraer’s backlog with the former signing for 15 of its E195-E2 single-aisle aircraft and the latter reporting a sale and leaseback arrangement with Porter Airlines for 10 more of the type. Spain’s Binter ordered half a dozen more E195-E2s. American Airlines topped off the Brazilian company's Le Bourget order take when it ordered seven of the smaller E175 model for its regional affiliate Envoy Air.
Twin turboprop maker ATR notched  22 more firm orders, plus two options, covering both its ATR 72 and ATR 42 turboprops. Taiwan’s Mandarin Airlines ordered half a dozen ATR 72-600s, while Malaysia-based Berjaya Air is taking two more equipped in an all-business class configuration. Brazil’s Azul plans to take three more ATR 72-600s and now holds options for another two. Meanwhile, five undisclosed customers signed contracts for eight ATR 72-600s and three of the smaller ATR 42.