Airbus says Saudi companies order 65 aircraft

RIYADH: European plane maker Airbus announced Monday orders for 65 aircraft from two Saudi companies, in the first major deals at this year’s Paris Air Show.

Riyadh Air, an airline founded in 2023, placed a “firm” order for 25 wide-body, long-range A350-1000 aircraft.

The deal would be worth more than $9 billion under 2018 catalogue prices — which Airbus has since phased out as final sale prices vary according to contract terms and version of aircraft.

The Riyadh Air deal could rise to 50 planes, Airbus said.

Saudi aircraft leasing company AviLease placed a separate order for 30 single-aisle A320neo jets and 10 A350F freighters in a deal worth several billion dollars.

While Airbus announced deals at the opening of the air show at Le Bourget, its US rival Boeing was focusing on the investigation of last week’s crash of a Dreamliner operated by Air India.

“Our focus is on supporting our customers, rather than announcing orders at this air show,” a Boeing spokeswoman told AFP at the trade fair outside Paris.

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Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg said last week he was cancelling plans to attend the biennial event to focus on the probe.