Bumper orders for Airbus

Airbus is celebrating a successful first day at the 47th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget having received a bumper crop of orders totalling around £20bn.

Qatar Airways signed a contract for the purchase of 80 Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and placed an order for a further three A380s, bringing their total order for the type to five. Deliveries will begin from 2013.

S7 Group is to purchase 25 Airbus A320 aircraft to be operated by S7 Airlines, the largest Russian domestic carrier, replacing its current fleet. Four leased A320 are planned be put into operation during the first half of 2008.

GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), a unit of GE and an aircraft financier, has signed a firm contract with Airbus for 60 additional A320 Family aircraft.

Dubai based airline Emirates has signed a letter of intent to buy eight additional A380 aircraft, taking their total order for the aircraft to 55. The A380 fleet will start deliveries in the third quarter of 2008.