Airbus CEO sees record year for orders

Airbus CEO sees record year for orders

	Published : Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:13 By : Agencies Print this Story

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The head of Airbus, the world's largest commercial airplane maker, said Monday he expects a record year for orders and deliveries despite a weak dollar and delays to its A380 superjumbo plane.

'We expect to have delivered 450 aircraft so far this year by mid-November,' Tom Enders, Airbus president and chief executive said at the Dubai International Airshow.

State-owned Dubai Aerospace Enterprise announced Monday at the airshow that it will buy 100 Airbus planes for $13.5 billion.

Dubai Aerospace, which develops airports and leases and finance aircraft, also said it will buy 100 aircraft from Airbus rival, Chicago-based Boeing Co., in a deal with $13.7 billion.

That order comprises 70 Boeing 787s and 30 widebody aircraft, the DAE said. The widebody fleet will be split between 787s, 777s and 747s. The price incorporates a deal with GE for engines, valued at more than $1.9 billion.

Also Monday, Saudi Arabian Airlines said it signed a memorandum of understanding for 22 Airbus A320 aircraft to modernize its fleet, said Airbus, which is owned by European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company. The agreement allows the Saudi airline company to increase the order by eight more A320s.

The orders come a day after Emirates Airline announced it signed a massive order for 78 Airbus, with an option to buy 50 more Airbus planes. The company's firm order included eight of Airbus' new superjumbo A380, the world's largest commercial jet. Saudi low-cast carrier National Air Service said it would buy 20 Airbus A320 aircraft.

On Sunday, Emirates Airline also ordered 12 Boeing 777 jets, and Qatar Airways ordered 27 Boeing 777 planes in part of its plan to double its 58-strong fleet to 110 aircraft by 2010.

LCAL, a Dubai-based leasing company, also announced Monday it plans to buy six Boeing 787 aircraft in a deal worth $972 million, the company announced.

The Dubai Airshow, the third-largest event of its kind, is closely watched as a measure of the state of Gulf air carriers, who are taking advantage of shifting travel routes to substantially expand fleets.