China’s biggest air show set to open

China’s biggest air show set to open

ZHUHAI, China The world’s major aircraft makers gather this week for China’s biggest air show, looking to the booming Chinese market to drive sales in coming decades as their industry’s growth elsewhere slows.

Boeing, Airbus and companies from 18 other countries including Russia and Brazil are displaying aircraft, radar equipment and other technology at the five-day show, which opens Tuesday in this southern town near Hong Kong.

China is expected to be the fastest- growing market for commercial aircraft over the next two decades. Boeing said last week that it expected carriers to purchase 2,900 new planes worth $280 billion over that period.

Held every two years, the Zhuhai show is the premier showcase for competitors hoping to break into China’s aircraft market and for the fledging Chinese industry to attract customers.

China signed a deal last week to buy 150 Airbus A320 planes, in a boost for the European aircraft maker, which has suffered costly delays with the A380 superjumbo jet. At the same time, Airbus signed agreements to open a final-assembly line in China, its first outside Europe.

At the Zhuhai show, Airbus was displaying a scale model of the A380 but no full-size aircraft.

Other exhibitors include Embraer, a Brazilian maker of smaller regional jets, which in 2004 became the first foreign aircraft maker to open a factory in China. Dozens of companies from China’s state-run aerospace industry also are showcased at the exhibition.

Displays include a model cabin of an ARJ-21, which is meant to be China’s first contender in the market for mid-range jets. The plane, which reportedly is to seat 78 to 105 passengers, is made by China Aviation Industry, also known as AVIC I. The company has not said when it expects to bring its first models to market.

Russian manufacturers are showing off fighter jets and military cargo planes, reflecting China’s importance to Russian arms exporters. The United States and the European Union have barred arms sales to China since its 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

Russian aircraft on display in Zhuhai included supersonic Sukhoi fighters, but there was no indication Monday that Moscow would be showing its most advanced aircraft. Russian military planners are reportedly uneasy about selling their best technology to China.

ZHUHAI, China The world’s major aircraft makers gather this week for China’s biggest air show, looking to the booming Chinese market to drive sales in coming decades as their industry’s growth elsewhere slows.

Boeing, Airbus and companies from 18 other countries including Russia and Brazil are displaying aircraft, radar equipment and other technology at the five-day show, which opens Tuesday in this southern town near Hong Kong.

China is expected to be the fastest- growing market for commercial aircraft over the next two decades. Boeing said last week that it expected carriers to purchase 2,900 new planes worth $280 billion over that period.

Held every two years, the Zhuhai show is the premier showcase for competitors hoping to break into China’s aircraft market and for the fledging Chinese industry to attract customers.

China signed a deal last week to buy 150 Airbus A320 planes, in a boost for the European aircraft maker, which has suffered costly delays with the A380 superjumbo jet. At the same time, Airbus signed agreements to open a final-assembly line in China, its first outside Europe.

At the Zhuhai show, Airbus was displaying a scale model of the A380 but no full-size aircraft.

Other exhibitors include Embraer, a Brazilian maker of smaller regional jets, which in 2004 became the first foreign aircraft maker to open a factory in China. Dozens of companies from China’s state-run aerospace industry also are showcased at the exhibition.

Displays include a model cabin of an ARJ-21, which is meant to be China’s first contender in the market for mid-range jets. The plane, which reportedly is to seat 78 to 105 passengers, is made by China Aviation Industry, also known as AVIC I. The company has not said when it expects to bring its first models to market.

Russian manufacturers are showing off fighter jets and military cargo planes, reflecting China’s importance to Russian arms exporters. The United States and the European Union have barred arms sales to China since its 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

Russian aircraft on display in Zhuhai included supersonic Sukhoi fighters, but there was no indication Monday that Moscow would be showing its most advanced aircraft. Russian military planners are reportedly uneasy about selling their best technology to China.

ZHUHAI, China The world’s major aircraft makers gather this week for China’s biggest air show, looking to the booming Chinese market to drive sales in coming decades as their industry’s growth elsewhere slows.

Boeing, Airbus and companies from 18 other countries including Russia and Brazil are displaying aircraft, radar equipment and other technology at the five-day show, which opens Tuesday in this southern town near Hong Kong.

China is expected to be the fastest- growing market for commercial aircraft over the next two decades. Boeing said last week that it expected carriers to purchase 2,900 new planes worth $280 billion over that period.

Held every two years, the Zhuhai show is the premier showcase for competitors hoping to break into China’s aircraft market and for the fledging Chinese industry to attract customers.

China signed a deal last week to buy 150 Airbus A320 planes, in a boost for the European aircraft maker, which has suffered costly delays with the A380 superjumbo jet. At the same time, Airbus signed agreements to open a final-assembly line in China, its first outside Europe.

At the Zhuhai show, Airbus was displaying a scale model of the A380 but no full-size aircraft.

Other exhibitors include Embraer, a Brazilian maker of smaller regional jets, which in 2004 became the first foreign aircraft maker to open a factory in China. Dozens of companies from China’s state-run aerospace industry also are showcased at the exhibition.

Displays include a model cabin of an ARJ-21, which is meant to be China’s first contender in the market for mid-range jets. The plane, which reportedly is to seat 78 to 105 passengers, is made by China Aviation Industry, also known as AVIC I. The company has not said when it expects to bring its first models to market.

Russian manufacturers are showing off fighter jets and military cargo planes, reflecting China’s importance to Russian arms exporters. The United States and the European Union have barred arms sales to China since its 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

Russian aircraft on display in Zhuhai included supersonic Sukhoi fighters, but there was no indication Monday that Moscow would be showing its most advanced aircraft. Russian military planners are reportedly uneasy about selling their best technology to China.

ZHUHAI, China The world’s major aircraft makers gather this week for China’s biggest air show, looking to the booming Chinese market to drive sales in coming decades as their industry’s growth elsewhere slows.

Boeing, Airbus and companies from 18 other countries including Russia and Brazil are displaying aircraft, radar equipment and other technology at the five-day show, which opens Tuesday in this southern town near Hong Kong.

China is expected to be the fastest- growing market for commercial aircraft over the next two decades. Boeing said last week that it expected carriers to purchase 2,900 new planes worth $280 billion over that period.

Held every two years, the Zhuhai show is the premier showcase for competitors hoping to break into China’s aircraft market and for the fledging Chinese industry to attract customers.

China signed a deal last week to buy 150 Airbus A320 planes, in a boost for the European aircraft maker, which has suffered costly delays with the A380 superjumbo jet. At the same time, Airbus signed agreements to open a final-assembly line in China, its first outside Europe.

At the Zhuhai show, Airbus was displaying a scale model of the A380 but no full-size aircraft.

Other exhibitors include Embraer, a Brazilian maker of smaller regional jets, which in 2004 became the first foreign aircraft maker to open a factory in China. Dozens of companies from China’s state-run aerospace industry also are showcased at the exhibition.

Displays include a model cabin of an ARJ-21, which is meant to be China’s first contender in the market for mid-range jets. The plane, which reportedly is to seat 78 to 105 passengers, is made by China Aviation Industry, also known as AVIC I. The company has not said when it expects to bring its first models to market.

Russian manufacturers are showing off fighter jets and military cargo planes, reflecting China’s importance to Russian arms exporters. The United States and the European Union have barred arms sales to China since its 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists.

Russian aircraft on display in Zhuhai included supersonic Sukhoi fighters, but there was no indication Monday that Moscow would be showing its most advanced aircraft. Russian military planners are reportedly uneasy about selling their best technology to China.