Sharjah 24 – AFP: US planemaker Boeing triumphed this week as it scooped up more orders than its European rival Airbus at the first Farnborough Airshow since aviation was ravaged by Covid.

Returning from a four-year absence, Farnborough hosted the sector's biggest players and signaled that the industry's recovery from the pandemic is underway if somewhat bumpy.

Boeing won orders totalling 297 aircraft during the spectacle, leaving Airbus trailing in its wake on just 85 jets. Yet those numbers remain dramatically lower than in 2018.

The US titan stole the show on Monday with a blockbuster $13.5-billion deal with US airline Delta for 100 of its MAX-10 aircraft and options for 30 more.

The MAX -- which suffered two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 -- saw a rush of interest with orders also from Japan's ANA, US investment fund 777 Partners, leasing firm Aviation Capital, and Qatar Airways.

Airbus failed to keep up with the blistering pace; its biggest order was for 56 A320neo single-aisle aircraft worth $6.2 billion from British budget airline EasyJet.