Airbus secures £4.5bn deal

PLANEMAKER Airbus has secured a £4.5bn order from Phillipine Airlines.

The European group, which employs 6,000 people at a wing factory in Broughton, near Chester, will deliver 54 aircraft – 34 A321ceo, 10 A321neo and 10 A330-300s.

It said the single aisle A321 aircraft will be used on the airline’s domestic and regional routes while the widebody A330s will fly on longer range services to the Middle East and Australia.

John Leahy, chief operating officer customers for Airbus, said: “We are extremely pleased that Philippine Airlines has placed its confidence in our aircraft to meet its future requirements.

“This announcement demonstrates once again the popularity of both the A320 Family and the A330, which remain the leaders in their size categories in terms of operating economics, reliability and passenger comfort.”