Aircraft
Paris Show Orders from Around the Globe Stretch Backlogs
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has opted for an all-Boeing solution to his fleet-expansion plans after abandoning plans to consider China’s Comac C919 narrowbody as an alternative to Western equipment. (Photo: Gregory Polek)
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has opted for an all-Boeing solution to his fleet-expansion plans after abandoning plans to consider China’s Comac C919 narrowbody as an alternative to Western equipment. (Photo: Gregory Polek)

As predicted, most airliner makers went home from last week’s Paris Air Show with yet longer backlogs of orders. Factoring in all the provisional sales (those covered by options, letters of intent or a memorandum of understanding), manufacturers announced something like $170 billion in new aircraft and engine business at Le Bourget. Recent experience has shown that the air transport sector has followed through on a large proportion of these provisional sales, promising at least half a dozen more years of strong income levels in civil aerospace but also mounting challenges for the strained supply chain.