Singapore Airshow generates deals worth $16 billion in sales and services

Singapore: Deals for more than $13.4 billion in sales of aircraft and related equipment were struck at the Singapore Airshow 2008, according to event organisers. They also said that another $2.6 billion was generated from contracts for facilities and other services.

This was an inaugural air show organised by the city-state, in response to a move by the organisers of the Asian Aerospace fair to re-locate to Hong Kong after a long presence here.

The biggest deal announced at the airshow was an order for 56 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, worth more than $4.4 billion by Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air.

Indonesian flag-carrier Garuda ordered four Boeing 777-300ERs worth $1 billion, while business jet operator, BJets, signed a $600 million contract for 40 Cessna and Hawker jets.

Airbus said it had secured orders for five A330-200F cargo planes from BOC Aviation, an aircraft-leasing firm fully owned by Bank of China, in a deal worth $877 million at catalogue prices.
Brazilian aircraft-maker Embraer also said that US aircraft leasing firm Jetscape Inc had ordered 10 E190 jets, with options for another 10 and purchase rights for 10 more, in a deal worth $375 million at list price.

The order was potentially worth up to $1.1 billion if all the options and purchase rights are confirmed, Embraer said.

Embraer also said Australia's Virgin Blue had signed a contract to exercise four purchase rights for E190 jets worth $150 million. This takes the number of firm orders from Virgin Blue to 24, consisting of six E170s and 18 E190s.