Boeing CEO James McNerney in front of a 787 which made its international debut at Farnsworth. (Reuters)

Planemaker Boeing Co. unveiled $13 billion in new aircraft orders during the first day of the Farnborough International Airshow, besting the $9 billion in orders reported by rival Airbus SAS as thousands of airplane suppliers and buyers gathered at the largest aerospace trade event of the year.

The flurry of aircraft orders came after two lean years for aircraft manufacturers Chicago-based Boeing and France-based Airbus and signaled that a rebound in the global airline market is well under way.

“The market is clearly coming back and I feel very confident about how we are positioned to regain — and retain — leadership in this business,” Jim Albaugh, CEO of Boeing’s commercial airplane business, told reporters Monday. Get the full story »