1800: That’s it from the show for day 2!
That’s a lid on the second day of the strangest airshow anyone can remember, and we’re heading back to the hotel to think more about the whys and wherefores of what this year means for aviation.
Keep an eye on your podcast feeds later this evening, or catch up in the morning on your way to day 3 of Le Bourget… or just a Wednesday, whichever is in your plans.
All afternoon: the Tuesday afternoon battle of the forecast briefings
Tuesday afternoon at Le Bourget comprised a pair of media briefings from Boeing and Airbus with only a few minutes to ask questions, which is a shame: previous years have been a real opportunity to understand how the airframers are seeing the demand side, and how to meet it.
You will be stunned to learn that both Airbus and Boeing are convinced that the future market for aviation suits each of their product lines very well, just as they have been since both were arguing the strength of their product lines to meet the vital Very Large Aircraft market that was made up of the A380 and 747-8I.
There were, however, some fascinating statistics on demand, beyond non sequitur gems like “Asia Pacific will have greater demand in the future”, which we’ll bring you in this evening’s 40,000 Feet podcast special edition, with an extra long section for Pros diving deeper still.
1221: In another press-light release, VietJet MoU covers 100 A321neos, plus 50 options
Trend alert! Big Airbus orders with scant chance for media to ask airlines or airframers about them.
Airbus and VietJet held a surprise press conference during the ANA seat unveiling that went so long that few questions were asked even by those media who were already at the chalet.
The result popped into our inbox during an otherwise very light day: VietJet has signed a memorandum of understanding (one of the softer order types we discussed in last night’s Pro Readout) with Airbus for 100 A321neos. Last month in an airplane diplomacy coup, VietJet signed for 20 more A330neos in the presence of the presidents of France and Vietnam.
But perhaps the lack of desire for press is not so surprising given the questions about VietJet’s financial situation swirling. Singapore’s Business Times called a VietJet witness statement in a recent financial lawsuit “a catastrophically dire picture of an over-leveraged airline with, at most, two weeks of cash on hand and one that has nearly exhausted all its credit lines”.
Second trend alert! Airbus calling purchase options something new that isn’t “purchase options”. Also in yesterday’s Pro Readout, we noted that Airbus has changed the way it describes purchase options.
This time they are, apparently, “the potential to add another 50 in the future”.
1128: Elevate, with Germany-US-Mexico supply chain, remains confident in delivery for business suites despite tariff threats
Tariffs are a big topic at this year’s Paris Air Show, with little clarity and much uncertainty — very much not the kind of industrial predictable that aviation needs in its globalised supply chain.
Seatmaker Elevate, formerly Adient, is an excellent example, even simplified: key elements of its seats are made in Germany, in California and in Tijuana. While the hope is that aviation retains its tariff exemptions, at a time of uncertainty in a mercurial White House where understanding of global trade is questionable, nobody knows what the future will bring.
Elevate is stockpiling key parts of its seat to hedge against any hiccups, but at some points tariffs are going to bite, and customers don’t want to pay them.
0954: De Havilland Canada reaches 13 refurbished Dash 8s to customers, over 40 airframes in the programme
At the other end of the capacity spectrum, De Havilland Canada’s strategy of OEM upgrade and refurbishment for Dash 8 turboprops is reaping rewards. The manufacturer has brought more than 40 aircraft into the programme, of which 13 have been delivered to 9 operators. 12 further have been sold and are being refurbished to their buyers' requirements. The programme is now expanding to the Dash 8-100, -200 and -300 aircraft, for which replacements are hard to find.
0930: ANA pivots to sofa seat in business with Safran The Room FX for 787-9
Sofa seats are back in business. ANA’s new longhaul 787 business class suite — The Room FX from Safran Seats — is the most impressive product we’ve seen in years.
Read more in our full article on ANA’s sofa seat setup, and keep an eye out for more today.
Some behind-the-scenes magic of how you unveil a business class seat at an airshow… pay no attention to the men behind the curtain! #PAS25
— The Up Front (@theupfront.media) 2025-06-17T07:23:32.321Z
0900: Paris 2027 will start on the 14th June
One for our Bluesky followers. We promised to bring you the sign confirming the 2027 date, and here you are:
0832: Second day begins, and so does our coverage
It’s day two and John is already out on Chalet Row, with a suitable amount of sunscreen of course.
If you missed our day one coverage, then don't worry, the full ‘as it happened’ is here.
You've also got an exclusive bonus podcast episode of 40,000 Feet where we explore the day's events.You can find the podcast here. We've made the subscriber version of this episode free to all, but Pros, don’t forget to check out your exclusive extended version.
