Airbus bags orders from Qatar, Emirates & US Airways

Europe's top commercial aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Monday won two orders, worth $17 billion, including 80 Airbus A350 jets and three A380 superjumbos, from Qatar Airways on the first day of the Paris Air Show.

Middle East-based Qatar Airways has signed a contract to buy 80 all-new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft at the 47th International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, complying with its pledge it made last month.

In May, Qatar Airways, a fast-growing airline founded in 1994, signed a draft contract with Airbus in Paris to buy 80 Airbus A350 jets for $16 billion, in the first major commitment to the European plane maker's new long-range jet.

Besides confirming its order for 80 A350s, Qatar Airways also placed an order for three more A380s, bringing the total order for superjumbos to five. Qatar has already ordered two A380s. The three superjumbos take the total order value to $17 billion at list prices.

Akbar Al-Baker, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer signed the contract with Louis Gallois Airbus President and CEO, cementing the initial agreement announced in May.

The order for 80 A350 XWBs includes 20 A350 XWB-800s, 40 A350 XWB-900s and 20 the A350 XWB-1000, the largest of the type.

“Concluding this deal with Airbus for the all new A350 XWB and the 21st century flagship A380 is a significant step in our development and towards reinforcing our commitment to operating the very latest and most modern fleet. Both the A350 XWB and A380 offer unbeatable operating economics and their performance and range will allow us continue the rapid development of our network," said CEO Al Baker.

Airbus, a subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS), will start delivering the jets in 2013, the first year the A350 is scheduled to enter service.

"Today is an important milestone in the history of the A350 XWB. We are honoured with Qatar Airways’ endorsement of our newest product,” said Airbus CEO Gallois. "Qatar Airways has been a long standing Airbus customer with orders straddling all our aircraft families, including the A380. I wish to thank Qatar Airways for their renewed confidence in Airbus," he added.

Emirates Airline has also signed an agreement worth $2.55 billion with EADS’ unit to buy eight additional A380 aircraft, taking their total order for the aircraft to 55. Airbus President and CEO, Gallois signed the letter of Intent with the Chairman of Emirates Group, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum at the Show.

Dubai-based Emirates was a launch customer for the A380, and already has firm orders for 47 superjumbos. Airbus will start deliveries of the superjumbo fleet in the third quarter of 2008.

Besides Qatar and Emirates, US Airways Group Inc. has also announced its plans to buy 92 Airbus aircraft on Monday. The U.S.-based airline confirmed its order for 60 single-aisle A320-family aircraft and 32 widebody aircraft, including the next generation A350 XWB.

Last year in December, Airbus won approval from its parent company to launch the long-range A350 XWB airliner family to compete with rival Boeing's popular 787 Dreamliner.

The first A350 XWB, a new medium capacity long-range extra wide-body passenger jet, is planned to be delivered in 2013, about five years after the first 787 Dreamliner is expected to enter service.

In order to gain possession of the civil aircraft industry's biggest market segment, the EADS Board of Directors gave their approval to Airbus to launch the industrial programme for the new A350 XWB airliner family. The EADS’ board approved 10 billion euros ($13 billion) in development costs for A350 aircraft.

As per EADS estimates, development costs of the full XWB family would be spread over the years 2007 to 2014 with the bulk of spending from 2010-13.

Three different passenger models and a transport version are planned for the A350 XWB family. The three basic passenger versions include the “A350-800” which can accommodate 270 passengers in a spacious three-class configuration up to 8,500nm / 15,750 km, the “A350-900” which can fly 314, and the “A350-1000” which is designed for 350, both with ranges of up to 8,300nm / 15,400 km.

The Toulouse, France-based leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus expects a demand for 5,700 planes in this range over the coming 20 years.

EADS, a large European aerospace corporation, was formed nearly seven years ago by the merger of Aérospatiale-Matra of France, Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA) of Spain, and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA) of Germany.

The company develops and markets civil and military aircraft, as well as missiles, space rockets, and related systems.

The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, Eurocopter, a global helicopter manufacturing and support company and the joint venture MBDA, which manufactures missiles.