New Airbus plane takes off with big orders at Paris Air Show

The Airbus next-generation A350 plane took centre stage at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday, winning multi-billion-dollar deals ahead of a much-anticipated possible fly-over.

The news comes just days after the new plane took to the skies in its first ever test flight on Friday, stealing the limelight before the start of the air show -- a key event where Airbus and Boeing compete fiercely for plane orders. The European plane maker is currently ahead of its arch-rival at the show -- $53.2 billion in new plane orders or agreements for Airbus versus $45.2 billion for Boeing.

Air France-KLM on Wednesday confirmed an order for 25 A350 planes -- which make extensive use of lighter composite materials to reduce fuel costs -- in a deal worth $7.2 billion at catalogue prices.

"Despite the difficulties that Air France-KLM is facing, we are in significant good shape to be able to plan for the renewal of our long-haul fleet for the long term," said Alexandre de Juniac, head of the airline group.

The agreement comes with an option for a further 25 planes, and the aircraft will come into service in 2017, he told reporters. The airline group had first announced its intention to buy the planes in September 2011.

SriLankan Airlines, meanwhile, took an option to buy four of the new planes -- an option expected to be exercised within two weeks -- and placed six firm orders for Airbus's popular A330 aircraft in a deal worth $2.6 billion at list prices.

AFP