Qatar Airways orders 24 A320 jets at Paris Air Show

17 June 2009

Qatar Airways has placed an order for 24 A320 jets, Airbus, the European aircraft maker announced at the Paris Air Show. The list price of the planes is $1.84 billion, but airlines usually get discounts, especially in times of recession.

Its biggest deal for A350 jets with a list price of $2.4 billion is with Air Asia while Vietnam Airlines and Cebu Pacific have also ordered new aircraft.

The orders have placed the Europe-based Airbus well ahead of US rival Boeing in the race to sign deals at the air show.

Speaking about the Air Asia order, Airbus boss Tom Enders said the orders were proof that there are some rays of sunshine in the market especially in the low-cost sector.

Vietnam Airlines' 16 A321 medium-haul planes are worth $1.4 billion at list price and the airlines has pledged to order two additional long-haul A350s. Cebu Pacific, the Philippines-based carrier has ordered five A320 planes.

The orders mean that Airbus will be meeting its target of 300 aircraft orders this year, according to Airbus sales chief John Leahy. He added, however that the figure could be less but he was keeping the 300 figure as a target.