Airbus claims orders of USD 33.5 bn at Paris show

LE BOURGET, France, June 17 (AFP) – Airbus has booked business worth USD 33.5 billion (EUR 27.7 billion) with orders and letters of intent for 280 aircraft at the Paris Air Show here, the marketing director for the European manufacturer John Leahy said on Friday.  

He said that Airbus intended to keep ahead of its US rival Boeing both in terms of orders and of aircraft delivered in 2005 and 2006.  

The price of shares in the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, which owns 80 percent of Airbus, rose by 1.38 percent to EUR 23.64 in early trading on Friday, having gained 1.03 percent on Thursday as Airbus announced orders.  

The show opened for professional visitors on Monday, and to the public on Friday, It closes on Sunday.