Emirates-based airline orders 20 Russian-made Sukhoi jets in US$1 billion deal

International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), the world's largest commercial leasing company, announced Tuesday an order for 12 new Airbus A350 aircraft.

The deal, worth some US$2 billion (Ђ171 billion) was announced during the third day of the &to=http://english.pravda.ru/world/2001/11/02/19914.html' target=_blank>Dubai Airshow, the region's largest aircraft exhibition.

"The Airbus A350 is the natural choice for a global lessor like us," said ILFC chairman and chief executive officer Steven Udvar-Hazy.

ILFC is Airbus' largest single customer world-wide. It was a launch customer for several of Airbus' aircraft, including the double-decker A380, the world's largest passenger plane.

On Monday, ILFC announced a firm order for 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with four additional options, a deal worth about US$2.7 billion (Ђ2.3 billion).

Boeing touts the 787, which is scheduled to enter service in 2008, as up to 20 percent more fuel-efficient than any similar plane on the market today. Boeing's plane is competing with the &to=http://english.pravda.ru/economics/2000/12/21/1590.html' target=_blank>Airbus A350, which is due to enter into service with airlines in 2010.

Also at the Air Show Tuesday, an Emirates-based aircraft leasing company announced an order for 20 Sukhoi Regional Jets from Russia in a deal worth US$1 billion (Ђ85 million).

Concord Aviation will receive the planes over five years, beginning in 2009, according to a Sukhoi statement.

The Regional Jet, which flies short and medium-length routes, is a new plane that is due to make its maiden flight in 2007.

Concord, a start-up leasing company, is the first Sukhoi customer outside Russia, "a real breakthrough which enables the Regional Jet program to open up new markets," said Sukhoi director-general Victor Subbotin.