Airbus Secures Orders Amid Defense Focus at Paris Air Show 2025

Airbus Secures Orders Amid Defense Focus at Paris Air Show 2025

Commercial Aviation Dominance

As the Paris Air Show 2025 concluded at Le Bourget, Airbus emerged as the dominant force in commercial aviation, capitalizing on Boeing’s notable absence. The company secured nearly $21 billion in new orders, underscoring its strong market position. Key agreements included a memorandum of understanding with Vietjet for 100 A321neos, with options for an additional 50 aircraft. AviLease committed to 30 A320neos and 10 A350 freighters, while Riyadh Air placed an order for 25 A350-1000s. LOT Polish Airlines expanded its fleet with 40 firm A220s and 44 options. Starlux Airlines increased its long-haul capacity by adding 10 A350-1000s, bringing its total to 18, and EgyptAir raised its previous order for A350-900s from 10 to 16. ANA Holdings finalized a firm order for 24 A321neos and three A321XLRs. These transactions reflect a market focused on production capacity and platform adaptability rather than headline-grabbing new models.

Defense Sector Gains Prominence

The 2025 Paris Air Show was marked by an unprecedented emphasis on defense and security, which accounted for approximately 45% of the event—a record for Le Bourget. Airbus made significant advances in this sector, securing a major contract for its Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems from Perth-based Drone Forge, alongside four additional agreements covering up to 26 aircraft and helicopters. In total, Airbus booked 142 firm orders across commercial and defense markets, demonstrating robust demand.

The show’s defense focus was shaped by ongoing global conflicts, notably in Ukraine and Gaza, which influenced industry priorities toward supply chain resilience, industrial base readiness, and the demands of attrition warfare. Air and missile defense systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, and drone technologies dominated both the exhibition and industry discourse.

Strategic Adaptation and Industry Challenges

Manufacturers at the show emphasized the evolving role of legacy platforms, shifting from showcasing solely next-generation prototypes to adapting existing assets for future networked battlespaces. Airbus highlighted this approach with its A400M, positioning the aircraft not only as a transport solution but as a “mothership” platform capable of deploying unmanned aerial vehicles and integrating into complex system-of-systems operations.

Lockheed Martin reflected a similar pragmatic stance, announcing a 40% year-on-year increase in tactical missile deliveries and prioritizing scale and delivery capacity over new product launches. Meanwhile, Airbus continues to face challenges within the defense sector, particularly ongoing disagreements with Dassault Aviation over the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which may affect future European defense collaboration.

With Boeing’s withdrawal from the Paris Air Show, Airbus effectively set the tone for the event. The strong order book and market response signal confidence in Airbus’s ability to meet the demands of both commercial and defense customers amid an industry increasingly defined by strategic necessity and operational resilience.