LE BOURGET, France, June 17: European plane maker Airbus SAS unveiled a record $12.5 billion jet order from Dubai-based airline Emirates on Monday, extending its lead over US arch-rival Boeing as the Paris Air Show kicked into top gear.
Taking advantage of a crippling airline industry crisis to lock in discount rates, state-owned Emirates also announced plans to lease 26 Boeing 777 planes.
The Airbus deal includes the purchase of 21 A380 superjumbos and makes Emirates by far the largest customer for the huge 555-seater that airlines will begin operating from 2006.
In addition to the 21 superjumbos, Emirates agreed to purchase two A340-500 and 18 A340-600 planes from Airbus.
Emirates is also taking the 26 Boeing planes directly from leasing firms ILFC and GECAS. Of those 26, Boeing has already sold 22 to the two lessors. The remaining four could turn into new orders for the plane maker at a later date.—Reuters
