13.06.05
The Airbus A380 super-jumbo has completed its first display flight today, at the opening of the Paris air show. The show is one of the aviation industry's biggest annual get-togethers where aircraft manufacturers and airlines meet to ink new deals.
The biggest rivalry in the aviation world, between the European firm Airbus and America's Boeing, will see some tit-for-tat announcements this week. Airbus has overtaken Boeing as the world's largest maker of commercial aeroplanes and the US firm has made no secret of is displeasure at losing its crown.
Airbus dealt the first blow today, when Qatar Airways said it was choosing its mid-sized jet over those of its US rival. Qatar said it was close to agreeing a deal to buy up to 60 of Airbus's new A350 jets worth $10.6bn. Boeing enjoyed a small reply, with Qatar opting to buy at least 20 of its larger 777 planes for around $4.6bn.
Boeing is expecting other successes, after recently announced a big increase in orders for its new 787 Dreamliner. It also is a bigger player in the military sector of the aviation industry, which is showing increasing signs of health as military spending has recovered from the post-Cold War slump.
Aero-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, which makes the engines for the A380, announced it has won a contract worth $800m (£444m) to supply Air China. Air China will use Rolls Royce's Trent 700 engine on its new fleet of 20 Airbus A330-200 jets.
More deals are expected to be announced during the week of the show, which is taking place at Le Bourget airport from today until Sunday 19 June. The public are admitted on the last three days, after most of the deals have already been done.
