Aviation rivals rack up orders at Paris air show

LE BOURGET, France — In announcements timed to make a splash at the weeklong Paris Air Show, Airbus racked up orders for a total of 166 aircraft Wednesday, bringing its haul for the first three days of the event to 548 — worth a total of $75.7 billion on the basis of catalog prices.

Of the three-day tally, 358 aircraft were firm orders and 190 were commitments that are likely to be converted into firm orders in the coming months.

Russian airline Aeroflot signed a firm deal for 22 of the revamped A350 aircraft, and Airbus received commitments from India's Kingfisher Airlines and Libya's Afriqiyah Airways to buy another 56.

Also, Etihad Airways, of the United Arab Emirates, agreed to buy four A340-600s, five A330-200s and three A330-200 freighter planes in a deal worth $2.2 billion at catalog prices.

Libyan Airlines, the nation's flag carrier, also signed a deal Wednesday with Airbus for 15 of its commercial jets including four A350s.

Leasing company CIT Group announced that it has signed contracts for 32 new Airbus aircraft, including seven A350 XWBs.

Five of the A350 XWBs replace A350 aircraft previously ordered by CIT.

Boeing, meanwhile, pocketed more plane orders from Air France and KLM on Wednesday.

KLM ordered seven of Boeing's next-generation 737-700, while Air France picked up nine of its 777-300 ER, or extended range, planes.

The combined firm orders worth $2.7 billion at list prices were previously on Boeing's books as preliminary deals assigned to "unidentified customers."

While both Air France and Airbus have links to the French government, Air France has long operated planes made by both Airbus and its U.S. rival Boeing.