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10 Qatar Airways had a rather modest presence in the show , where it showcased its Airbus A350 featuring its acclaimed QSuite Business Class . // BENJAMIN BARBE
11 The Boeing 777-9 flight display was one of the highlights of the show . The airframer secured a firm order from Air India for 10 of the type . // ADRIAN NOWAKOWSKI
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retrofit CRJ-series aircraft with its ZA 2000RJ powertrain .
An initial technical study conducted by ZeroAvia and Mitsubishi ’ s MHIRJ — the current holder of the type certificate for the former Bombardier regional jet program — found that the retrofitted powerplant could support up to 60 passengers with a range of up to 1,040km ( 560nm ), covering more than 80 % of current flights .
At a press conference , Val Miftakhov , ZeroAvia ’ s CEO , acknowledged challenges
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regarding payload and range , but said , “ this technical study confirms a viable propulsion architecture and integration which could be utterly transformational . Before the end of the decade , airlines could be flying zero-emission jets .”
He said the lower price of hydrogen fuel and fewer maintenance costs could be competitive advantages for the program .
Last May , ZeroAvia took delivery of a former Horizon Air ( QX ) DHC Dash 8 400 turboprop ,
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planning to fit it with a hydrogen propulsion system to be the ” world ’ s largest zero-emissions aircraft ”. The company plans to flight-test the aircraft sometime in 2024 .
THE LONG GAME
At a glance , the 2023 Paris Air Show seemed to be a success . In total , 1,278 firm orders , MOUs , LOIs , and options were signed during the event . It is worth noting that 1,172 of these orders — 97 %— the highest proportion ever recorded for the show at Le Bourget .
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Nevertheless , when looking at the big picture , the show ended with a strong sense that the aerospace market is still not where it needs to be . |
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The worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind airlines . The latest passenger traffic report from the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) shows levels at over 90 % of the 2019 ones and recovering at a faster pace than expected . However , net profit margins are still too thin , at 1.2 %, and this weakness is reflected in the order books . Aircraft lessors , which are a driving force for orders and commitments during the airshows , took a break this year in Paris – with the exception of Avolon and a minor order from ALC . |
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The dynamics of the postpandemic world seem more uncertain for OEMs ( original equipment manufacturers ) and aerospace players , with geopolitical woes further affecting an already troubled supply chain ecosystem . Whether the effect of these challenges will be transient or long-lasting remains unanswered . |