Boeing shut out of orders race at Paris Air Show

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Le Bourget (France): Airbus edged into the lead on Tuesday in a muted race with Boeing for plane orders at the Paris Air Show, which has been hobbled this year by recession, tight credit markets and plane crash concerns.

Planemakers at the world's biggest air show are trying to coax airlines and governments to open their pocketbooks and buy more aircraft despite plunging passenger loads and revenues. Airbus CEO Tom Enders said today's sunny skies – after pelting rain on Monday's opening day – boded well for business and promised more orders later in the day.

Boeing Co. executives said the industry's prospects were robust, yet the Chicago-based aviation giant has reported no new orders so far. Airbus announced just one on Monday, from Qatar Airways for 24 jets from the A320 family worth $1.9 billion.

That was well below the $25 billion raked in the first day of the last big show, at Farnborough, England last year.

Airbus, on Tuesday, also announced a firm order from a private Asian customer for an A320 Prestige, the first Asian buyer for the high-end business jet. The buyer and the cost of the deal were not released.