This year’s Paris Air Show was notably quieter in terms of commercial aircraft orders compared to previous editions. However, even in this subdued environment, Airbus once again demonstrated its market dominance, while Boeing—despite PR efforts—left the show almost empty-handed.
Airbus secured 248 firm orders along with 156 options, far surpassing its competitors. Key buyers included AviLease (for A350 and A320 family), Riyadh Air (A350-1000), LOT Polish Airlines (A220), VietJet with a substantial 100+50 options A321neos (in the form of an MoU), and Egyptair, Starlux, and All Nippon Airways with various A321 and A350 models. Airbus’s order book highlights continued expansion in Asia and the Middle East, with additional momentum in the narrow-body segment.
Boeing officially announced 41 orders and only 4 options, but the reality is bleaker. All orders attributed to Boeing at the show—including those from All Nippon Airways for 787s and 737 MAX aircraft—were finalized back in February and only confirmed at the show for promotional purposes. This means Boeing secured no new orders during the Air Show itself. Boeing’s physical absence was also noticeable—the American manufacturer’s presence was significantly reduced, a likely consequence of the recent Air India accident, which further eroded trust in Boeing’s aircraft. The company made minimal PR efforts, and no official announcements were made regarding rumored orders from Air India for the 777X or Ethiopian Airlines for the 737 MAX 7.
Embraer collected 77 orders and 55 options, largely thanks to SkyWest Airlines and the February order from All Nippon Airways (15+5 E190-E2s), which, like Boeing’s, was only reconfirmed at the show. ATR recorded 15 orders and 10 options, all from U.S.-based JSX.
In total, the show saw 381 confirmed orders and 235 options, significantly fewer than in previous years. However, this is no longer surprising: the trend of large orders being announced at trade shows is gradually fading, as airlines increasingly negotiate and reveal deals independently of event calendars. Moreover, last year’s edition featured unusually large orders, such as IndiGo’s 500 aircraft and Air India’s 470.
Airbus dominated the 2025 Paris Air Show. Boeing, grappling with an image crisis and safety concerns, was virtually absent, at least in terms of business. And while the industry continues to shift toward private deals away from the spotlight, Airbus still knows how to make the most of the stage, both in numbers and in presence.
