Airbus chief concedes defeat to Boeing in Paris Air Show ord

Airbus conceded defeat to US rival Boeing in the race for new business at the Paris Air show on Thursday. A late haul of almost 100 aircraft by Airbus failed to close a gap that was opened up by the launch of Boeing's new 737 model.

John Leahy, CEO of Airbus, admitted this year was a slower show than previous years, and conceded that the American firm sold a few more airplanes than Airbus did. "We've got 42 percent of the market at the air show for the last three days, they've got the rest," Leahy daid. "In terms of firm orders at the air show, it's a wash, about 50-50 in terms of firm orders. Are those numbers lower than they were in previous years? Yes, they are."

Airbus on Thursday signed deals with Malaysian carrier AirAsia, along with Zagros Airlines and Iran Air Tours, two privately owned Iranian carriers. As Airbus was unveiling its numbers, Boeing topped off its tally by announcing a firm order for 125 737 MAX 8s with an undisclosed customer. The American firm also sealed another deal with AerCap, the world's largest independent aircraft leasing company, to convert 15 of its MAX 8s airplanes into the larger MAX 10s.