Saudi Arabian Airlines orders 50 Airbus worth $8bn

Airbus says the order consists of 20 Airbus A330-300 Regionals and 30 A320ceos

LE BOURGET: Saudi Arabian Airlines has ordered 50 passenger planes from Airbus with a total catalogue value of some $8 billion the aviation giant announced on Monday at the Paris Air Show.

The order consists of 20 Airbus A330-300 Regionals and 30 A320ceos, Airbus said, adding that the Saudi flagship airline would be the first to fly the Regionals.

The medium-haul plane, which can carry 400 passengers and has a range of 5,000 kilometres, will allow the airline to increase capacity on its most popular regional routes, Airbus said in a statement.

Read: JF-17 wins first export order at International Paris Air Show: report

The plane "is Airbus's solution for markets with large populations and fast-growing, concentrated air traffic flows," it said.

The world's leading air show opened on Monday near the French capital with a special focus on green issues alongside the traditional sales war between Airbus and Boeing.

Read: Pakistan eager to secure first ever-order for the JF-17 at Paris Air Show

President Francois Hollande is set to inaugurate the week-long Paris Air Show, which is expected to draw 315,000 visitors and 2,260 exhibitors from 47 countries.

Paris is the oldest and biggest air show in the world, having first taken place in 1909.