Airbus seals raft of new orders

Airbus is busy developing the new A350 XWB

Aircraft maker Airbus has received a number of new orders worth billions of dollars from a number of global airlines at the Paris Air Show.

The biggest deal, for 10 A350 jets with a list price of $2.4bn (£1.2bn), is with Air Asia. Vietnam Airlines and Cebu Pacific also ordered new planes.

On Monday, Airbus announced a deal with Qatar Airways for 24 A320 jets.

The orders mean Europe-based Airbus is now well ahead of US rival Boeing in the race to sign deals at the air show.

Speaking about the Air Asia order, Airbus boss Tom Enders said: "Today's order is certainly proof that there are some rays of sunshine in the market, especially in the low-cost sector."

On target

Vietnam Airlines has ordered 16 A321 medium-haul planes worth $1.4bn at list price, and pledged to order two further long-haul A350s.

Philippines-based Cebu Pacific has ordered five A320 planes.

Buoyed by the latest orders, Airbus sales chief John Leahy said the company was sticking with its target of 300 aircraft orders this year.

"Of course, the figure could be less, but I'm keeping this target," he said.

Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates airline Etihad Airways has announced an engine and maintenance deal with US conglomerate GE worth more than $5bn.

Finally, reports suggest that Spanish airline Air Nostrum has ordered 10 regional turboprop planes from aircraft maker ATR.