Boeing, Airbus announce big sales at Paris Air Show

PARIS, June 15 (UPI) -- Airbus Group SE and Boeing Co. began the weeklong Paris Air Show with 200 aircraft sales, on the first day.

The carrier PT Garuda Indonesia replenished its fleet Sunday with memoranda of sales with Boeing for 30 787-9 Dreamliners and 30 737 Max 8 shorter-range aircraft, as well as with Airbus for 30 A350 wide-body planes. Combined, the deals approach $17 billion.

Airbus also announced Saudi Arabian Airlines will buy 20 A330-300 Regional planes and 30 A320 planes. The A330-300, a wide-body capable of carrying up to 400 passengers, is making its debut at the air show; airbus is attempting to capture a wider share of the wide-body market, normally the province of Boeing. The Saudi Arabian airlines purchase makes it the first customer of the A320-300's regional version.

Boeing also announced Taiwan's EVA Airways will purchase a fleet of 777 cargo jets.

The weeklong biennial is a marketplace for buyers and sellers, and an opportunity to compare the latest aviation's newest technological advances. It alternates annually with a show in Farnborough, England.