Paris Air Show Deals Foreshadow Industry Rebound

While stunt planes, jet fighters and attack helicopters swooped overheard, industry professionals on Monday got down to the real business of the Paris Air Show: making deals.

If news coming out of the world’s largest aerospace trade show was any indication, the Aerospace industry could be climbing out of its slump.

Among the deals Monday:

Airbus Industrie confirmed sales of 30 aircraft worth $1.17 billion. Air Canada said it will convert options on 10 Airbus A319 aircraft to firm orders, while Lufthansa - Airbus’ biggest customer - confirmed its intention to buy 20 A319s, Airbus’ smallest passenger jet.

Arianespace signed the first contracts for Europe’s new gigantic Ariane rocket.

A Canadian-multinational project announced a new 70-seat aircraft.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. said it will launch full-scale development of the S-92 Helibus.

In deals expected later, Boeing was to announce a multibillion dollar sale to Saudi Arabia of the 777, its latest model and the world’s largest twoengine commercial jet.

The deals are welcome news to the world aerospace industry, where markets fell 16 percent in the United States in the last four years, 12 percent last year in France, and 31 percent in Germany.