A computer-generated image released by Boeing of its 787 Dreamliner. Photograph: AP
In the boxing ring, the world had Ali and Frazier. In the passenger aircraft business, we have Boeing and Airbus - two companies slugging it out for dominance of the skies.
After being overtaken two years ago, Boeing is determined to regain the top spot. At this year's Paris air show, the company, which is expected to deliver 375 to 385 planes next year, said it was on course to overtake Airbus by 2008 at the latest.
This is no idle boast. Boeing has won 266 orders for its new 787 Dreamliner, while Airbus has secured far fewer orders for its new A350, a twin-engined jet.
Much to the relief of Airbus, Qatar Airways said today it was close to buying up to 60 of the A350s worth $10.6bn, although the carrier also intends to buy at least 20 of Boeing's larger 777 planes for around $4.6bn.
The order puts Airbus closer to achieving its target of 100 orders for the A350 by the end of this week's show. The A350 also happens to be at the centre of a transatlantic trade row. Just as Airbus announced a big order for the A350, the legal skirmish over the plane was beginning in Geneva, headquarters of the World Trade Organisation.
Washington filed a complaint at the WTO last month about plans for European government aid to fund development of the A350. The EU filed a counter-complaint, claiming that Boeing continues to benefit from massive subsidies in violation of international trade agreements. The trade dispute is set to be the most complicated and costliest dispute in WTO history.
The trouble with such disputes is that they are hard to contain. Boeing is backing moves in the US Congress to ban the Franco-German defence and aeronautics group, Eads, from bidding for lucrative military contacts because the company is the 80% owner of Airbus. BAE Systems, as owner of the other 20%, also faces a similar ban.
All this is taking place against a background of turmoil at both companies. Boeing is still looking for a replacement for Harry Stonecipher, who resigned after it emerged that he was having an affair with a female executive. The top spot at Airbus has been vacant for the last six months because of infighting between French and German shareholders at Eads over who should be chief executive.
Just as Ali and Frazier had their thrilla in Manila, Boeing and Airbus are heading for their own thrilla in Geneva, complete with their separate subsidiary dramas. Time to fasten your seatbelts.
