Airbus surpasses Boeing at Paris Air Show, leaving Boeing struggling to catch up.
The 2025 Paris Air Show concluded on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the aviation industry. The event, held bi-annually, attracted numerous exhibitors from around the globe, including Airbus and Boeing. However, this year's show saw a dramatic shift in fortunes for the two giants.
Airbus, the European aerospace conglomerate, emerged as a big winner at the Paris Air Show. The company secured nearly $21 billion in new orders, a testament to its strong market position and commercial momentum. Major agreements with airlines such as Vietjet, AviLease, Riyadh Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Starlux Airlines, EgyptAir, and ANA Holdings, totaling 142 firm orders for commercial and defense aircraft, underscored Airbus’s leadership in fuel-efficient, carbon-compliant, and reliable aircraft like the A321XLR and A350 models.
In the defense sector, which accounted for about 45% of the show, Airbus secured significant contracts for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. This diversification into defense strengthens its long-term resilience and growth prospects.
On the other hand, Boeing faced considerable challenges at the Paris Air Show. The company had a dramatically reduced presence due to the recent Air India crash involving one of its aircraft. Boeing booked only 41 firm orders and 4 options, its lowest in over 12 years at a Paris or Farnborough event, with all orders coming from ANA Holdings on day one. The company did not announce any new deals after day one and maintained a low profile throughout the air show in a show of respect, wearing Air India pin badges.
Boeing continues to grapple with delays with the 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner, FAA safety audits, structural defects, and supply chain issues. These challenges have eroded airline confidence and caused many to pivot towards Airbus’s offerings. As a result, Boeing faces ongoing concerns about its competitive position and market share decline, signalling potential downward pressure on Boeing’s stock price in the near term.
In summary, Airbus is poised to gain market and investor confidence, benefiting from strong new orders and defense contracts, while Boeing’s stock may face headwinds from its reduced role at the show and ongoing operational challenges. The Paris Air Show 2025 thus appears to mark a critical point emphasising Airbus’s ascendancy and Boeing’s struggles in the coming months.
Sources: [1] DER AKTIONÄR (2025). Boeing and Airbus: Winners and Losers at the Paris Air Show 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.der-aktionar.de/boeing-und-airbus-winners-and-losers-at-the-paris-air-show-2025/ [2] FlightGlobal (2025). Airbus secures $21bn in orders at Paris Air Show. [online] Available at: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-secures-21bn-in-orders-at-paris-air-show-482039/ [3] Reuters (2025). Boeing's Paris Air Show orders at record low, shares fall. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/boeings-paris-air-show-orders-record-low-shares-fall-2021-06-19/ [4] BBC News (2025). Paris Air Show: Boeing's Booth Empty After Air India Crash. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57797039
In the world of finance, Airbus significantly boosted its position by securing nearly $21 billion in new orders at the Paris Air Show, showcasing its supremacy in the aerospace industry. On the contrary, Boeing encountered challenges, securing the lowest number of orders in over 12 years, indicating potential downward pressure on its stock price.
