The 2025 edition of the Paris Air Show has officially opened at Le Bourget, and it’s already making headlines with a series of commercial aircraft orders.
Airbus has kicked off the biennial airshow with orders from Riyadh Air, LOT Polish Airlines and AviLease. Moreover, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has finalized orders for up to 77 aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.
Here is the recap of orders and announcements at the Paris Air Show Day 1.
Riyadh Air Orders 25 A350-1000
Riyadh Air has signed a firm order for 25 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. This agreement includes options to increase the order to 50 jets in the future. The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, and Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
With this order, Riyadh Air becomes the first Saudi airline to operate the A350-1000, marking a significant step in the country’s aviation expansion. Moreover, this deal aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to handle 300 million air passengers annually.
“This order marks a significant step forward in building a world-class airline that reflects the ambitions of Vision 2030. The A350-1000 will bring outstanding efficiency and comfort to our fleet, supporting our sustainability goals and enabling Riyadh Air to offer a premium experience while connecting Saudi Arabia to the world,” said Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air.
Although Riyadh Air will commence operations with the Boeing 787, the Airbus A350 will reportedly be its flagship aircraft in the long term.
As of May 2025, the A350 Family has secured over 1,390 firm orders from more than 60 customers globally, with 657 aircraft in service on long, medium, and short-haul routes around the world.
AviLease Orders Up to 77 Airbus A320neos, A350 Freighters
Saudi Arabian aircraft lessor AviLease has placed a firm order for 10 Airbus A350F freighters and 30 A320neo family aircraft on the opening day of the Paris Air Show. Moreover, the order includes options for an additional 12 A350Fs and 35 A320neo family aircraft. Deliveries of the firm-order aircraft are scheduled to take place between 2030 and 2033.
The A320neo family order is made up of an undisclosed mix of A320neos and A321neos, but AviLease said it does not include the A321XLR. AviLease has not selected an engine type for the narrowbodies yet.
“The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world. We thank our local partners and Airbus for the strong long-term partnership we have established and look forward to placing these aircraft across our valued customer base,” said Edward O’Byrne, CEO of AviLease.
O’Byrne further stated that the demand for large freighters is strong due to an impending retirement wave and constrained production capacity, especially amid rising cargo needs in Saudi Arabia and across the region.
AviLease currently owns and manages a fleet of 200 aircraft and has outlined its ambitions to rank among the world’s leading aircraft lessors. Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to grow its revenue from approximately $8 billion to $20 billion by 2030, driven by strategic acquisitions and direct purchases from manufacturers or the secondary market.
ANA Finalizes Order for 77 Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer Aircraft
ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways (ANA), has finalized previously announced orders as part of a 77-aircraft fleet renewal plan valued at approximately $14 billion. This was finalized at the 2025 Paris Air Show and approved at the company’s February 2025 board meeting.
Firm Orders and Options by Aircraft Type:
- Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
- 18 firm orders with GE engines, scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2031
- 5 additional options finalized from a 2020 announcement
- 23 firm orders, including finalized options
- Boeing 737 MAX 8
- 8 firm orders and 4 options approved in 2025, deliveries planned between 2029 and 2033
- 10 options finalized from a 2019 announcement
- 18 firm orders plus 4 options
- Embraer E190-E2
- 15 firm orders and 5 options (Japan’s first E2 operator)
- Deliveries planned between 2028 and 2033
- Airbus A321neo
- 14 firm orders for ANA’s fleet renewal
- 10 A321neos and 3 A321XLRs for Peach Aviation’s growth
“This order will be the catalyst for improving the profitability of domestic flights and the expansion of international flights which is an area of future growth of our airline business. We will fully utilize this opportunity in order to become an industry-leading airline with sustainable growth,” said Koji Shibata, President and CEO of ANA Holdings.
ANA aims to proactively modernize its fleet with new fuel-efficient aircraft to support sustainable growth, particularly anticipating strong inbound passenger demand and expanded capacity at Narita International Airport. By fiscal year 2030, ANA Group expects to operate approximately 320 aircraft, including about 120 Boeing 787-series jets.
Moreover, the expanded fleet will enable ANA to increase available seat kilometers (ASK) on international routes by roughly 1.5 times compared to fiscal year 2023, while optimizing supply and demand on domestic routes through flexible, cost-efficient aircraft like the Embraer E190-E2.
LOT Polish Airlines Orders Up to 84 A220
LOT Polish Airlines has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus A220-100 and 20 A220-300 aircraft. This marks the first time the Polish flag carrier has selected the European manufacturer for its fleet. The agreement, announced at the 2025 Paris Air Show, also includes options that could expand the total order to as many as 84 A220s.
The new A220 jets will gradually replace LOT’s existing regional fleet, and is expected to enhance operational efficiency, so that the airline can explore new routes and destinations.
“Today’s decision is about the future. The Airbus A220 family aircraft, which will start joining our fleet in 2027, open up new opportunities for development and growth – key pillars of our strategy,” said Michał Fijoł, LOT Executive Officer.
As of May 2025, the Airbus A220 program had logged over 900 firm orders from more than 30 operators, with more than 415 aircraft delivered. The type is currently flying with 24 airlines across more than 1,600 routes, reaching over 470 destinations worldwide.