The world's biggest air show began with a huge order for the Airbus superjumbo, deals for Boeing's troubled Dreamliner, and a bang from thunder and lightning.
The Paris Air Show at Le Bourget started with a slew of orders for Airbus and Boeing in their constant battle for supremacy in the booming market for airliners, with strong demand from emerging markets.
The two rivals are fighting to get an edge in the market for long-haul wide-body planes at this year's show, which started north of Paris under black skies, thunder, lightning and torrential rain.
Airbus took centre stage with big deals, including a mammoth provisional order for 20 A380 double-decker superjumbos by aircraft financing group Doric with a catalogue price of about USD 8.0 billion (6.0 billion euros).
The European manufacturer also said US aircraft leasing group ILFC had ordered an extra 50 of its new A320 neo airliners -- which are not yet in service -- at a catalogue price of USD 5.0 billion.
German airline Lufthansa said it had completed an order, announced in March, for 100 medium-range Airbus A320 aircraft, worth 10 billion euros at list prices. The order is part of a programme by Lufthansa to buy 100 Airbus planes.
The head of Boeing's commercial aviation division Ray Conner said the show was going to be a "great competition" and added that airlines would "benefit from the fact that both companies are going to have a good wide-body product line."
"I think we have the better products and at the end of the day, hopefully the better product wins," Conner told reporters on Sunday, and on Monday Boeing announced several orders for its next-generation 787 Dreamliner, its new 737 MAX and its existing long-haul 777 plane.
Japan's Skymark Airlines said it had put down firm orders for four 737 MAX aircraft, becoming the first Japanese airline to set its sights on Boeing's new medium-haul plane.
Leasing firm GECAS, meanwhile, ordered 10 787 Dreamliners worth USD 2.9 billion at list prices, while Qatar Airways announced orders for nine 777s -- two firm, and seven options, worth USD 2.8 billion.
Boeing and Airbus traditionally vie for the highest number of orders at the Paris Air Show. However, deals are usually concluded at less than the list prices, depending on discounts and tough negotiations over made-to-measure features.
