Airbus, Boeing vie for almost $21B of orders at show

DELTA Air lines Inc. is poised to kick off the Farnborough International Airshow with orders for Boeing Co. and Airbus SE jets as sales teams for the rival planemakers race to wrap up deals worth at least $21 billion ahead of the industry’s largest trade expo.

The event outside of london marks the first large-scale gathering of industry leaders in three years and will serve to showcase billions of dollars in aircraft transactions.

It will also provide a measure of the global aviation industry’s recovery from a pandemic that flattened international travel, and serve as an update on logistics meltdowns and labor shortages that have hampered manufacturers’ efforts to speed up work in their factories. Held as the UK issues an extreme heat warning, sustainability will also be a big topic.

After years of negotiations, Delta is expected to announce orders and commitments for as many as 130 of Boeing’s 737 Max 10 jetliners, providing an endorsement for the final and largest member of the narrowbody jet family, according to people familiar with its plans. Atlantabased Delta is also preparing to order a dozen of Airbus’s A220 jets, topping up an earlier deal.

A purchase order for 130 737 Max 10 jets and 12 A220s would be valued at around $6.7 billion, according to figures from leading aircraft appraiser Avitas.

Airbus may close a $10 billionplus deal for about 30 A330neo widebody jets with Malaysia Airlines. Bloomberg News reported earlier this month that the European planemaker was leading a race against Boeing with the Southeast Asian carrier. Airbus could also seal orders for as many as 60 A220 jets from LOT Polish Airlines SA.

Germany’s Condor Flugdienst Gmbh, meanwhile, is in discussions with Airbus for as many as 40 A320neo family planes that could wrap up as soon as this week, some of the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are confidential.

Airbus said that it doesn’t comment on speculation. “We are always in contact with existing and potential customers. Any discussions which may or may not be happening remain confidential,” it said in a statement. Condor declined to comment.

Other orders are still being negotiated down to the wire with airlines seeking to haggle with both manufacturers to secure the best terms. Jet Airways India ltd., which is preparing to return to the skies, is still deciding between Airbus A320neo and A220 planes as well as Boeing’s 737 Max or Embraer SA jets, people familiar have said.