DUBAI, Nov 4: Emirates airline announced Sunday mega deals to buy up to 68 passenger planes worth 15 billion dollars from Airbus and Boeing Corp. in a massive vote of confidence in the industry’s future.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Said Al-Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai-owned carrier, first told a press conference of orders for 22 giant double-decker A380 aircraft from the European Consortium and options for 10 more at a cost of seven billion dollars.

Delivery was due to start from 2006, he said, at the opening of the Dubai international airshow, the first since the September 11 attacks on the United States which sent the industry into a tailspin.

The airline had also ordered three twin-engined A330 Airbuses worth 450 million dollars and signed a letter of intent for eight of the larger four-engined A340-600 Airbuses worth one billion dollars, Sheikh Ahmed said.

Then, flying in the face of the global airline industry recession, he signed letters of intent to buy 25 US Boeing 777 passenger jets for 6.6 billion dollars, to be delivered between 2004 and 2010.

More than 450 companies from 33 countries are at this year’s airshow, although the aviation crisis has seen a fall in numbers, with a 10 percent reduction in exhibition space.

Sheikh Ahmed was nevertheless optimistic.

“The dynamics of the aviation industry needs us to plan ahead,” he said.

“By 2006 we expect to carry twice as many customers as now. We plan to open more routes, to north and south America for example, to add flights to existing routes. We will announce five new destinations next year.”

He said he expected “180 percent growth over the existing fleet.”

“The order reflects Emirates’ total confidence in the future,” he added.

Airbus Industrie President Noel Forgeard, said: “It’s an historic moment,” a clear sign for the Middle East that there is “no pessimism” in the wake of September 11.

Forgeard pledged “several million dollars for the training of local pilots and creating a centre for Airbus planes in Dubai.”

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space company EADS, which owns Airbus along with Bae systems, supported Emirates’ expansionary schemes.

“This contract demonstrates customer confidence in both the market and the A380, it confirms also EADS’ belief that the sound mid- and long- term prospects of the aviation industry will prevail over the current turbulence. Aviation remains a strong growth market,” said the statement from EADS chief executive officers Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich.

Sheikh Ahmed said Rolls Royce and Alliance were in competition to supply engines for the superjumbos.

The announcements fit a careful strategy for Dubai’s expansion outlined by Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who projects a sixfold increase in tourism to the Gulf emirate within the next decade.

Sheikh Mohammad, the driving force behind Dubai’s phenomenal take off, revealed that another billion dollars had been added to expansion costs for the city state’s airport mainly to cater for the A380.—AFP