February 24, 2008	Sunday	Safar 16, 1429

SINGAPORE, Feb 23: The Singapore Airshow saw more than $13.4 billion in sales of aircraft and related equipment this week, thanks to a booming aviation market, organisers have said.

Another $2.6 billion was generated from contracts for facilities and other services, they said in a statement issued late Friday, at the inaugural event.

The small but wealthy city-state decided to host its own airshow after organisers of the Asian Aerospace fair moved the event to Hong Kong.

The biggest deal announced at the airshow was an order for 56 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft worth more than $4.4 billion by Indonesian low-cost carrier Lion Air.

Indonesian flag-carrier Garuda ordered four Boeing 777-300ERs worth $1.0 billion and business jet operator BJets signed a $600 million contract for 40 Cessna and Hawker jets.—AFP