Airbus secures $17B in Saudi orders amid Boeing’s scaled-back presence at Paris Air Show

Airbus (OTCPK:EADSF) (OTCPK:EADSY) emerged as the early frontrunner at the 2025 Paris Air Show, unveiling major aircraft orders from two Saudi Arabian buyers with a combined potential value of up to $17 billion, overshadowing a quieter showing from Boeing (NYSE:BA) in the wake of a recent crash involving one of its jets.

The European aerospace giant announced deals with Saudi state-backed leasing firm AviLease and the new national carrier Riyadh Air. AviLease committed to up to 77 aircraft, including 30 A321 narrowbodies (with options for 25 more), as well as 10 A350 freighters and an additional 12 options. Riyadh Air followed with a separate agreement for as many as 50 A350-1000 widebody jets.

Industry analysts estimate AviLease’s order could be worth around $8 billion after typical discounts, Bloomberg News reported.

The twin deals reinforce Airbus’s (OTCPK:EADSF) (OTCPK:EADSY) momentum at this year’s show while signaling Saudi Arabia’s growing ambitions in global aviation. Riyadh Air, aiming to begin service by the end of 2025, is expanding aggressively, having already placed a significant narrowbody order with Airbus (OTCPK:EADSF) (OTCPK:EADSY) earlier this year.

The announcements also reflect a broader shift in global aerospace dynamics. Last month, AviLease struck a deal for up to 30 Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737 jets during U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East tour, where Boeing (BA) dominated headlines.

In contrast, the American planemaker has kept a low profile in Paris. Following a tragic crash involving an Air India 787 Dreamliner that left nearly all 242 passengers dead, Boeing (BA) withdrew senior executives from the air show and postponed commercial announcements.

At a press briefing, AviLease Chief Executive Edward O’Byrne acknowledged that the freighter competition between Airbus’s A350 and Boeing’s 777 was intense, but noted that the A350 ultimately came out ahead.

AviLease, founded in 2022 and financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has been expanding quickly as part of the kingdom’s broader effort to diversify its economy beyond oil and build a hub for logistics, tourism, and trade. The firm acquired Standard Chartered’s aviation leasing unit in 2023 and now oversees a portfolio of 200 aircraft leased to 48 airlines worldwide.