Boeing assumes lead from Airbus in second round of order announcements

On the second day of the Paris Air Show, Boeing took the lead for firm airplane orders, racking up 140 orders from three companies for its 737 MAX aircraft, which is under development.

Boeing said leasing company AerCap placed an order for 100 737 MAX 8s, which is valued at $10.7 billion at list prices. It also said Ruili Airlines committed to purchase 30 737 MAXs, and leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital placed an order for 10 737 MAX 8s. Boeing didn’t place a value on the SMBC order, which adds to a 2014 order for 80 737 MAX 8s, but said the Ruili order is valued at $3.2 billion and is subject to the approval of the Chinese government.

Boeing also said Korean Air plans to purchase 30 737 MAXs and two additional 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners, with options for an additional 20 737 MAXs, in a deal valued at $3.9 billion. It also said Minsheng Financial Leasing signed a memorandum with Boeing to purchase 30 737s, a mix of Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAXs.

At the show on Tuesday, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner said the first 737 MAX will roll out of the factory by the end of this year and fly for the first time early next year.

Meanwhile, Airbus said on Tuesday that Peach Aviation, a low-cost carrier in Japan, signed a firm contract with Airbus for the purchase of three A320s, and EVA Air of Taiwan has signed a memorandum for the purchase of four additional A330-300s.

This story was originally published June 16, 2015 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Boeing assumes lead from Airbus in second round of order announcements."