At the Paris Air Show last week, Indian and Chinese airlines booked huge orders with Boeing and Airbus. And many of the airlines are privately held - 5 years ago most of the airline industry around the world was public sector.
Of course, as an American I wish Boeing had won more than Airbus. But for all the nay sayers like Lou Dobbs who talk about one way trade traffic, this is a small repartee. GE, Coke, Pepsi, Citibank and a bunch of other American companies are benefiting from booming middle classes in the developing world.
The better question to ask is why are companies like Delta, GM and others not able to make money there?
PS - for all the flying we all do, highly recommend at least once in your life go to the Paris Air Show (it alternates with The Farnborough Air Show in UK every other year). I went in the mid 80s just as Boeing was rolling out its majestic 747-400. This year Airbus showed off its massive A380. There are all kinds of commercial, military, vintage planes. Quite a show. It is the Sapphire of the aviation world.
