The two big planemakers battle it out

At the June Paris Air Show, Boeing beat Airbus in firm orders.

Airbus reported 124 firm orders worth the equivalent of R203.75 billion, as well as 297 commitments worth R508.75bn.

Boeing clocked up 154 firm orders worth R25.25bn, and 177 commitments worth R375bn.

But Airbus may come out trumps in time if the last-minute R175bn provisional order for 100 planes from Wizz Air is firmed up.

The European planemaker, however, has pipped its American rival in results for the first half of this year.

Airbus records orders for 382 aircraft in the first six months. After cancellations and conversions between models, net orders were 348 aircraft. It delivered 304.

Boeing logged orders for 325 aircraft during the period, and a net total of 281. It pushed ahead of Airbus on deliveries, with a total of 381 aircraft delivered in the first half.