Emirates Air Inks $35B Order With Airbus

Airbus got a huge boost from Emirates Airline on the first day of the the Dubai air show yesterday, winning a record $35-billion order for 81 planes. Emirates ordered 11 A380 super jumbos and 70 mid-sized A350 XWBs in the largest-ever single purchase of aircraft. Boeing got a consolation prize of a $3.2 billion order for 12 777s.

Boeing also announced a  $6.1 billion deal with Qatar Airways for 30 787 Dreamliners and five 777 cargo aircraft, the Times of London reports. Emirates went with Airbus because Boeing wasn't able to deliver its new 787-10 in time, officials said. "There was a recognition that we have to buy sooner rather than later," said Emirates' president. "Airbus had come up with a good airplane at a good price that hit the spot." (More Airbus stories.)