Farnborough Air Show kicks off with $51 billion in deals as Airbus shows off new ultra long-haul jet

FARNBOROUGH, England – The Farnborough Air Show generated deals worth £39.3 billion ($50.8 billion) across its first day, the organizers of one of the biggest events in the aviation world calendar said, as Airbus showcased its new single-aisle long-haul jet.

ADS Group, comprising the Farnborough organizers and trade group ADS, said the headline figure represented deals struck at list prices and included 163 firm aircraft orders worth £4.6 billion to the U.K.

Crisis-hit Boeing, which had been seen as keeping a lower profile at the event by continuing a recent trend of avoiding passenger jet displays, nonetheless occupied a large pavilion and received an early boost from several orders. Korean Air signed for 40 wide-body jetliners from the U.S. plane-maker, while Japan Airlines placed a firm order for 10 of its 787-9 Dreamliners, with an option for 10 more.

Budget Vietnamese carrier VietJet placed an order for 20 of Airbus's A330neo aircraft on Monday.

Airbus meanwhile grabbed the attention of the thousands of trade delegates with an early afternoon display of the soon-to-launch A321XLR, set to be the world's longest-range single-aisle aircraft.  

The jet received European certification on Friday and is eagerly awaited by numerous airlines including Ireland's Aer Lingus and Spain's Iberia, for its capacity to cover long routes that have previously only been served by widebodies, with lower fuel costs.

First deliveries of the A321XLR are expected in the third quarter, roughly a year after they were initially scheduled to take place, highlighting one of the major issues continuing to hang over the aviation industry – ongoing delivery delays and supply chain hold-ups.

In recent years, Farnborough — held every two years in alteration