During the Paris Air Show, Airbus on Thursday reported robust orders of nearly $21 billion, while Boeing kept a low profile as it struggles with a host of issues.

The show is happening at a delicate time for Boeing, which is coming off its best month for sales in a year and a half and a deadly plane crash in India involving one of its aircraft.

A surge in defense spending, partnerships in hydrogen propulsion and new combat aircraft agreements, many backed by composites industry leaders, culminated the 55th Paris Air Show.