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 Airbus had scheduled three order announcements before noon but
pouring rain aggravated already overloaded highways, preventing at
least one of the jet maker's customers from making it to the air
show on time.
Getting to Le Bourget Airport, only nine miles from central Paris,
should take just 25 minutes but access has taken up to two hours
some mornings because of heavy traffic and a strike by train
drivers.
With news conferences delayed, Airbus had to make due with just a
written announcement for its first order of the day, a deal for six
A350 long-range jets from Kuwaiti leasining company ALAFCO.
Boeing, meanwhile, showcased its 787 jet, dubbed the Dreamliner, for
the first time despite the bad weather.
Japan's All Nippon Airways announced Wednesday it expects to receive
the first of the much-delayed 787s in August or September, and have
a total of 14 of the revolutionary composite jetliners by next
March. The airline has 55 of the planes on order. Developmental problems have delayed the twin-engine jet's
introduction into passenger service by more than three years.
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Chicago-based Boeing has announced fewer new orders in Paris than
Airbus, but the arrival of the 787 late Tuesday caused a lot of neck
craning by attendees. The plane goes on demonstration Wednesday.
Airbus has booked over $25 billion in orders and commitments for new
aircraft at this year's air show, including a raft of orders for its
A320neo, a fuel-efficient workhorse that airlines are eager to buy
because of the 15 percent fuel savings Airbus boasts the jet will
achieve.
[Associated
Press; By GREG KELLER]
Slobodan Lekic at Le Bourget contributed to this report.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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