Airbus bagged a $3.5 billion plane order from Saudi Arabia's AviLease on the opening day of the Paris Airshow on Monday, as a diplomatic dispute erupted over France's decision to shut down four Israeli stands for displaying deadly weapons.

Airbus SE landed an order for as many as 77 aircraft from Saudi Arabian lessor Avilease, kicking off dealmaking at the Paris Air Show.

US group Boeing said Monday it would focus on supporting its customers at the Paris Air Show instead of the traditional announcements of

Air India, in its current form, has maintained a more balanced fleet, having taken delivery of 122 Boeing aircraft and 114 Airbus planes between 2006 and 2025

Airbus SE predicted the global commercial aircraft fleet will double in size to almost 50,000 planes over the next 20 years, spurred by rapid growth in markets like India, where a rising middle class increasingly takes to air travel.

India has emerged as a significant player in the global aircraft market. Since 2023, Air India has ordered 570 aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing. Meanwhile, IndiGo has ordered over 900 Airbus planes, which now includes an additional acquisition of 60 A350 widebody jets.

The plane manufacturer said that the growth in air travel will require 43,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years.

Following the devastating Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed nearly 300 lives, Airbus emphasized that safety trumps competition. Christian Scherer, Airbus CCO, stated the tragedy is a reminder of aviation's inherent risks and the industry's commitment to preventing future accidents.