A350 at Paris

As predicted by BTN the Airbus A350XWB prototype finally did make an appearance at the Paris Air Show last week, but on the Friday (21 June), when virtually all the press, and most of those that count, had gone home. 

The ‘big twin’ was spotted around 13:20 (lunchtime at those chalets that had not closed with executives homebound) and made a single overpass at around 600ft.  It will now go on record as making it first ‘public’ debut at Paris 2013, rather than the ‘private’ appearance at its home base at Toulouse a week earlier.

In truth it was a rather lack-lustre show (and extremely wet on the Monday) with the two most interesting aircraft not available for viewing, the A350 failing to land, and British Airways’ A380 banned for viewing for everyone and the airline’s PR department sitting back at Waterside. 

Two large ‘manufactured’ orders were announced, that by easyJet for 135 Airbus A320 series, Chief Executive Carolyn McCall more interested in selling seats at home than having a day out at Le Bourget, and for the third time Ryanair announcing a commitment for 175 Boeings, Michael O’Leary actually putting in an appearance. (Also see PARIS AIRSHOW REPORT).  www.paris-air-show.com

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