After surge in orders, airlines now balk at wide-bodies

At the International Paris Air Show this week, much of the excitement at the aerial displays will come from the latest souped-up versions of the smaller Airbus and Boeing planes. But the chatter at the lavish dinners is likely to focus on a more worrisome topic: a recent slowdown in orders for the companies’ largest and most expensive jets. As one of the longest upswings in sales in aviation history falters, Boeing has been forced to cut production of its giant 777 and 747-8 jets. And questions are mounting about how much longer Airbus will be able to keep building its mammoth A380. Analysts say several factors have come together to reduce interest in the planes, and some experts think the slide in orders could last several years. <br/>