But as the week-long show progresses it could be Boeing, European-owned Airbus’s US rival, that emerges triumphant in the battle for orders, analysts believe.

The two global giants – which between them dominant the market for 100-plus seat civil aircraft – are expected to sign hundreds of orders this week, many of them the firming up of already-announced intentions to buy.

Airbus clocked up more than 700 orders at Paris two years ago – the show alternates with the Farnborough Air Show – but analysts are expecting lower numbers this time.

However, Airbus chief executive Tom Enders said last week in a pre-show briefing that he hoped airlines would sign contracts for firm orders and options for ‘hundreds’ of aircraft.

Airbus came out top on the first day yesterday in the traditional tit-for-tat battles that mark air show season.

It landed a mammoth provisional order for 20 A380 double-decker superjumbos with aircraft financing group Doric at a catalogue price of about £5bn.

It also said US aircraft leasing group ILFC had ordered an extra 50 of its new yet-to-fly A320neo (new engine option) airliners at a catalogue price of £3.18bn.

And German airline Lufthansa said it had firmed up an order, previously announced in March, for 100 medium-range Airbus A320 aircraft worth £8.5bn at list prices.

Boeing announced several orders for its next-generation 787 Dreamliner, its new 737 MAX and its existing long-haul 777 plane.

Boeing is playing down expectations of a large haul at Paris this time.

Both Boeing and Airbus are using the show to take the fight for sales into the long-haul market. Airbus’s new A350 took to the skies for the first time last Friday and is likely to perform a fly-by at the show this Friday for French President Francois Hollande.

The aircraft has significant input from the West’s aerospace industry – with its wings, landing gear and fuel system designed by Airbus engineering at its giant Filton plant. Parts of these wings made from innovative low-weight composite material are made by engineering group GKN at its plant at Severnside.

The A350, which clocked up 163 firm orders before it had even flown, could find itself competing with a new ‘stretched’ version of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

The US giant has not yet signed off the project but five or six airlines, including Singapore and United, are understood to have said they might consider buying it.

Some industry watchers were forecasting that Boeing will officially announce the new aircraft today with orders for up to 100 from these buyers, some of them converted from smaller planes.

Bruno Goutard, sector economist at credit insurer Euler Hermes, told Reuters: “People are focusing on long-haul aircraft this year. It is a crucial segment and a fundamental one for the profitability of both constructors.”

Boeing is forecasting the mid-sized twin-engined market, which includes the Dreamliner, will be worth $1 trillion over the next 20 years. Much of this will be in Asia – the world’s fastest-growing region for air travel.

Meanwhile, the military aerospace sector is likely to have an unusually quiet show. Several major US defence groups are not attending and there are likely to be few announcements.

Airbus’s A400M, whose wings are made at Filton, will perform a flying demonstration – but there are likely to be few buyers in the audience due to defence budget cuts across the globe.

 Since opening in the landmark 1950s transit sheds on Bristol’s historic waterfront, M Shed has been longlisted for the prestigious Art Fund Prize and in a few weeks’ time will find out if it has been successful in its nomination for the prized Telegraph Family Friendly Museums Award.

When it opened two years ago owners Bristol City Council anticipated a quarter of a million visitors a year.

Head of Bristol’s Museums, Galleries and Archives, Julie Finch, said: “The public response to M Shed has been fantastic. To have reached over 1.3m visitors in just two years is testament to the quality of the museum and the hard work of staff, volunteers, trustees and sponsors.”

Assistant mayor for leisure, tourism, licensing and community safety, Simon Cook, added: “M Shed has given Bristol a massive cultural and economic boost and has given visitors another reason to visit our diverse and vibrant city.

“A varied exhibition programme has helped to bring in visitors from across the region ranging from National Portrait Gallery exhibitions to the recent very popular Chocolate exhibition that told the story of chocolate making in the city.”

The museum features 3,000 exhibits, drawn from the world-class collection of the city, telling the many thousands of stories of the people of Bristol, discovered through working with experts and communities across the city, a process that will continue for the life of the museum.

The Chocolate exhibition runs until June 23.

The firm, formed in Sheffield in 2001, has opened its South West base at Broad Quay House on Prince Street, Bristol, as well as offices in Cardiff and Swansea.

Wilson Field works to recover businesses in financial trouble or insecurity, while also offering debt solutions to companies and individuals. Last year, it helped to save more than 1,500 jobs and 90 businesses across the UK.

The firm employs more than 80 people and has offices in Leeds, Manchester and the West Midlands as well as Sheffield. Further offices are planned in Preston and Lincoln as it continues to expand into a national player.

Jon Law has been appointed to head the Bristol and Welsh offices and has recruited a four-strong team across the three locations.  

A solicitor, Jon qualified as a licensed insolvency practitioner in 2005. He has extensive experience in dealing with a variety of personal and corporate appointments.

He said: “Wilson Field has a growing reputation in the Midlands, North West and Yorkshire for providing professional, independent business support. It’s our aim to build on this success by increasing the company’s presence in Wales and the South West. 

“It’s vital to be based in the local market and Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea all have very individual professional networks and varying sector strengths.

“We have pulled together an experienced and knowledgeable group of people, who know the region very well. While it is a new territory for Wilson Field, it’s not for us and we are looking forward to using our contacts in the area to provide business support.

 “We’ve had an encouraging start and with the backing of Wilson Field’s established, professional network of expertise across the UK, we can add significant value to businesses in Wales and the South West.”   

INTERIMS
Sorbic International

FINALS
Majestic Wine

AGMS
African Mining & Exploration, Condor Gold, CPP Group, Energetix Group, Mission Marketing Group, Networkers International, Oxus Gold, Reach4Entertainment Enterprises

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
SThree

Q1
OSJC Center for Cargo Container Traffic Transcontainer GDR (Reg S)

Tuesday June 18

INTERIMS
Crest Nicholson Holdings, One Media IP Group

FINALS
First Derivatives

EGMS
Helical Bar

AGMS
Alpha UK Multi Property Trust, Amati Vct 2, Andrews Sykes Group, Aseana Properties Ltd., Bluecrest Bluetrend Ltd Red USD, British American Inv Trust, Coastal Energy Co (DI), Nationwide Accident Repair Services, Porta Communications , Premier Farnell, Ryanair Holdings, Scottish Mortgage Inv Trust, Share, Toye & Co, Walcom Group (DI), Whitbread

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Consumer Price Indices (09:30)
Producer Price Index (09:30)
Retail Price Index (09:30)

Wednesday June 19

FINALS
Berkeley Group Holdings (The), Darty, Imagination Technologies Group, Micro Focus International, Sutton Harbour Holdings

EGMS
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI), Noventa Ltd

AGMS
Ashmore Global Opportunities Ltd GBP Shares, Braemar Shipping Services, Bwin.party Digital Entertainment, Densitron Technologies, Downing Planned Exit VCT 6, Downing Planned Exit VCT 7, Downing Planned Exit VCT 8, Downing Planned Exit VCT 9, Inspired Energy, Iofina, London Security, Metals Exploration, Nature Group, NB Global Floating Rate Income Fund Ltd GBP, Sefton Resources Inc., Serabi Gold, Sigma Capital Group, Surgical Innovations Group, Tau Capital, UK Commercial Property Trust, Westminster Group

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
BoE Interest Rate Minutes (09:30)

Thursday June 20

Q4
Ashtead Group

FINALS
Ashtead Group, Dixons Retail , HML Holdings, UBC Media Group

AGMS
Albion Technology & General VCT, Alexander Mining, Bond International Software, Dragon-Ukrainian Properties & Development, Harvey Nash Group, Heritage Oil, Noricum Gold Ltd (DI), Northcote Energy, OJSC OC Rosneft GDRS (Reg S), Plaza Centers NV, Tawa, Ted Baker, TLA Worldwide

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
CBI Industrial Trends Surveys (11:00)
Internet Retail Sales (09:30)
Retail Sales (09:30)

Friday June 21

FINALS
Alpha Real Trust Ltd., Flybe Group

EGMS
X5 Retail Group NV GDR (Reg S)

AGMS
Christie Group, Cupid, Eastern European Trust, Eland Oil & Gas, Forum Energy, Investors Capital Trust 'A' Shares, Investors Capital Trust 'B' Shares, Investors Capital Trust Units, Kalimantan Gold Corp Ltd. (DI), Narborough Plantations, North River Resources, Prospect Japan Fund Ltd., Vimetco NV GDR (Reg S), Zhejiang Expressway Co 'H' Shares

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Sector Finances (09:30)

Building on Bristol’s long history of experimenting, innovating and learning, the city will showcase the results of innovations and experiments that have already succeeded here, and will host bold new experiments to find out how best to create sustainable urban environments.

Residents will also be asked to come up with ideas for their own experiments and Bristol will reach out to other European cities to share the learning. The experiments will focus on the city’s five priority areas of transport, energy, the low carbon economy, improving local environments and places, and supporting local centres.

They ideas be tested live around the city over the year and ‘streamed’ over the internet so others can take part and the results can be shared.

In addition, some of the city’s biggest annual events will be turned into ‘green’ versions of themselves, attracting new visitors to Bristol and reinforcing its reputation as a leading sustainable city in the UK and Europe.

Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson said: “Bristol has launched its strongest bid yet. We aim to lead the way and inspire other cities around the globe. Winning the European Green Capital Award in June will help accelerate the progress Bristol has made to date and help us towards meeting our ambitious 2020 targets.”

Bristol has the highest cycling rate among Britain’s core cities (the eight largest city economies outside London), with nearly 50 per cent more people cycling to work now than they did in 2007. More than 16,000 people now cycle to work, which is more than Liverpool, Sheffield, Nottingham and Newcastle’s cyclists put together.

Residents in the city also produce less waste and recycle a higher percentage of goods than any of the other core cities, making it the least wasteful city in Britain.

Bonnie Dean, chief executive at the Bristol & Bath Science Park, said the catapults Bristol’s many green achievements onto an international stage.

“It will make the Bristol and Bath region all the more attractive to overseas investors, particularly in our growing renewable sector,” she said.

“We are leading the green agenda in the UK – only this week George Ferguson announced that he wants Bristol to become the first solar panel city in the UK with a target of generating 1GW of solar electricity by 2020. And with companies like DuPont in the region, which helps produce one of the most efficient solar panels in the industry, we now have a perfect opportunity to showcase and share this activity across Europe.”

Jeremy Richards, head of the Bristol office at international property agents JLL, said: “European Green Capital 2015 will give us the winning edge. In the past we’ve had to compete against much larger cities, such as Manchester, for investment and new contracts but now we can develop a strong and credible brand for ourselves that will set us apart from this competition.”

Destination Bristol chief executive John Hirst said it was a positive boost for the city’s already active environmental scene. 

“Bristol has developed a reputation for being a city that doesn’t just think green, but acts green as well,” he said. 

“We are already leading the way in the UK, so becoming European Green Capital is the natural next step, and helps to cement our place as a vibrant and forward-thinking city bringing us even more international acclaim.

“Our city is already a thriving centre of environmentally-friendly activity and the events during Bristol’s BIG Green Week show just how varied the green scene already is here in Bristol. We can expect it to grow and improve further in the build up to, and throughout, 2015 as part of our new European Green Capital status. This great green achievement will undoubtedly help us to attract more visitors to enjoy our beautiful city.”

Bristol triumphed in a four-way, tightly-fought contest with Brussels, Glasgow and Ljubljana – the capital of Slovenia. The judges were impressed with Bristol's ambitions to put sustainability at the core of all future schemes.

Bristol Mayor George Ferguson said: “This demonstrates Bristol’s ambition to be a pioneering green city and is recognition for the many years of hard work and dedication by the city council, businesses and the people of Bristol to make our city more environmentally friendly.

“We will now be turning our attention to staging an inspiring programme of events in 2015 which will be centred on the idea of Bristol as a ‘laboratory for change’. I have offered Bristol as a test-bed for environmental ideas in 2015, where we will develop pioneering practices which will not only benefit Bristol, but will hopefully become a model for cities around the world.

“We are very aware that we have much more work to do to become a truly sustainable city but we look forward to sharing that journey with people from across Bristol and Europe.

“This announcement couldn’t have been better timed. This weekend sees the start of Bristol’s BIG Green Week and the Bristol Festival of Nature, so I invite all to come into the heart of Bristol and celebrate with us.”

Back in Bristol, key figures involved in the bid had gathered at M Shed to hear the announcement relayed from Nantes. They let out a loud cheer when Bristol was named the winner.

Savita Custead, a member of the team that presented Bristol’s bid to the jury in Brussels in May and chief executive of the Bristol Natural History Consortium, which organises the Bristol Festival of Nature, added: “Bristol is a hub of environmental businesses, organisations and individuals who work together to help promote green ideas and enjoy our natural spaces and resources.

“This weekend we have over 25 major exhibitors attending the Festival of Nature to share their love of the environment with the people of Bristol, and that is a perfect example of how our joined up thinking has helped us to become the European Green Capital for 2015.”

Chair of the Bristol Green Capital Partnership Martin Bigg said: "Winning this prestigious prize is a reflection of our commitment to the environment and is a fantastic opportunity to generate jobs and promote inward investment.

“The award demonstrates that turning Bristol into a low-carbon city is central to our vision and by greening the city we are helping to make Bristol an even more attractive place to live, work, visit and study.”

The European Green Capital Award was set up in 2008 to reward cities that consistently achieve high environmental standards and are committed to further environmental improvement and sustainable development. The winning city must act as a role model and demonstrate a vision for the future that will inspire other cities to take similar action.

The Bristol Festival of Nature is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year and runs all weekend (15-16 June) across Bristol’s Harbourside with a host of new exhibitors and activities to entertain the whole family.

Celebrating, Bristol fashion: From left, Stephen Hilton, service director Bristol Futures, Darren Hall, Bristol Green Capital Partnership manager, Liz Zeidler, vice-chair Bristol Green Capital Partnership, Stacey Yelland, Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management, Savita Custead, director Bristol Natural History Consortium, Gus Hoyt, assistant mayor for neighbourhoods, environment and council housing, Bristol City Council, and Sir Graham Watson, Lib Dem MEP for South West England and Gibraltar. Photo by www.joncraig.co.uk

Those close to the city’s bid say it is ahead on points over rivals Glasgow, Brussels and Ljubliana, the capital of Slovenia.

Bristol’s case is so strong, the bid team believe, that only a last-minute technicality will stop Bristol clinching the prestigious title.

In the initial bid stage, the city came first in all three technical categories; climate change, air quality and noise, putting it in its strongest ever position to win. The bid team’s appearance in front of the judges strengthened Bristol’s hand, according to insiders.

The announcement is expected around 7pm.

Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson, who is in the French city of Nantes for this evening’s gala dinner and announcement, said: “Bristol is in a really strong position this year and we are confident that we gave the city every chance of winning when we presented to the jury. Winning this award would be fantastic for the city and would raise our profile on an international stage. Of course, we know we have more work to do in becoming a truly sustainable city but we see the Award as being an important step on that journey. We await the result eagerly!”

If it wins, Bristol will stage a programme of events based around the idea of the city as a ‘laboratory for change’. A series of experiments will focus on transport, energy, low carbon economies, improving local environments and places, and supporting local centres.

http://www.a350xwbfirstflight.com/

The A350-900 is sized to seat more than 300 passengers comfortably over routes as long as 8,100 nautical miles.

The use of the most modern design and manufacturing techniques results in exceptional fuel economy.

A350-900

Performance

Range

15 000 km

Mmo

M0.89

Max ramp weight

268.9 (259.9) tonnes

Max take-off weight

268.0 (259.0) tonnes

Max landing weight

205.0 tonnes

Max zero fuel weight

192.0 tonnes

Max fuel capacity

138 000 litres

Engines

RR Trent XWB

x2

Thrust range

374 kN                                                                          Source: Airbus

The 300-seat long range plane, which cost about £8.9bn to develop, spent four hours above Toulouse, where it was assembled from parts made by Airbus plants across Europe. Some 900 Airbus engineers at Filton carry out design work on the aircraft’s wings, fuel systems and landing gear.

Engineering group GKN’s plant at Severnside is also involved in the A350, producing wing parts out of lightweight composite material.

The A350’s maiden flight comes just days before the start of the Paris Air Show – the world’s largest aerospace industry gathering and the shop window for new models.

Getting the A350 airborne in time for the show is a major coup for Airbus – bosses have been insisting on it for months – and allows it to compete head-to-head with arch-rival Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner.

An Airbus Filton plant spokesman said: “Today is a great day for Airbus and aviation. Filton has played a key role in the development of this great aircraft.

“Airbus already has orders for over 600 of this new aircraft which is excellent news for not just Airbus but the whole of the UK aviation industry.”

The A350’s first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign totaling around 2,500 flight hours with a fleet of five development aircraft. The rigorous flight testing will lead to the certification of the A350-900 variant by the European EASA and US FAA airworthiness authorities, prior to entry into service in the second half of 2014 with first operator Qatar Airways.

The state-of-the-art digital operation on Whiteladies Road, in the heart of the city’s media district and close to the BBC’s Bristol studios, will employ at least 20 people – mostly new recruits.

The £1m base will cost around £1m to fit out and will include 30 picture and sound editing suites plus additional space for TV production offices.

Evolutions managing director Simon Kanjee said: “Having had discussions with our existing independent television production company clients in London as well as TV producers in Bristol we believe there is a significant demand for the scale, speed and quality of post-production service that we can offer.”

Evolutions is the largest firm of its kind operating in Soho, the heart of London's film and TV sector. Its credits include the BBC's The Apprentice and Watchdog, An Idiot Abroad (Sky1), One Born Every Minute (Channel Four) and The Only Way Is Essex (ITV2).

A dozen of the best writers and performance poets from across the African Diaspora will take part in the Yardstick Festival from June 27 to 30.

Prestigious authors at the festival will include Lorna Goodison, Tanya Shirley, Geoffrey Philp (all Jamaican), Lemn Sissay (British Ethiopian), Warsan Shire (Somali), Mukoma Wa Ngugi (Kenyan), Nick Makoha (Ugandan), Leeto Thale (South African) and Jamal Safari (Congolese).

Also taking part will be Emman Egya Sule (Nigerian), Nii Ayikwei Parkes (Ghana), Dean Atta (British Jamaican) and Chioma Okereke (Nigerian)

 Lorna Goodison, Jamaica 50 Cultural Medal of Honour recipient and festival patron, will headline the opening event at Bath central Library on Thursday, June 27, followed on Saturday with Yardstick’s Griot Globetrotters group performance in Bristol on Friday, June 28 and Bath on Saturday, June 29. Lemn Sissay at Bristol Central Library will headline the final day on Sunday, June 30. The closing event is a VIP After-show late evening party with poet Dean Atta

The festival will also include a series of thought-provoking panel discussions. These will include Rural v Urban, chaired by Chino Odimba (Bristol, June 28), Lost in Translation, chaired by Dee Jarrett-Macauley (Bath, June 29), and Black Publishing chaired by Richard Jones (Bristol, June 30).

There will also be two writing workshops on Friday, June 28. Warsan Shire and Chioma Okereke will be at City Academy, Redfield. Geoffrey Philp and Jamala Safari will work with students at North Bristol Post-16 Centre, Cotham. The centre is providing up to 16 volunteers for the festival.

Bristol assistant mayor with responsibility for neighbourhoods, environment and council housing Gus Hoyt said: “This is a thrilling line-up of talent and I’m very pleased that Bristol will be co-hosting this event with Bath.

“It’s also a brilliant opportunity to celebrate and explore the work of authors, poets and performers from across the African diaspora.”

Director of The Royal African Society Richard Dowden said: “We are thrilled to be working with Yardstick Festival this year to bring some of the best African authors and literature to Bristol and London, and we look forward to an enduring partnership.”

Yardstick’s full programme and further information can be found at http://www.yardstick.org.uk