Aeroflot to split jet plane order

Aeroflot already owns Airbus planes

Russian carrier Aeroflot has said it will split an order for long-range jetliners between Boeing and Airbus.

The firm's chief executive said it would buy 22 Boeing 787 Dreamliners between 2010 and 2012, and 22 Airbus A350 XWBs between 2012 and 2016.

He said the state-controlled airline had already agreed a deal with Boeing, but was still in talks with Airbus.

An Aeroflot shareholder had earlier paid Boeing a $40m (£21m) retainer to reserve the jets.

The National Reserve Corporation, which controls 30% of Aeroflot, had paid the money to ensure that the planes were not sold to another airline.

Boeing already has 377 firm orders for its Dreamliner, while Airbus has yet to sign any customers for its rival wide-body version of the A350.

A state-owned Russian bank recently bought a 5% stake in Airbus-owner EADS.