Airbus announces 50-jet order for revamped A330

Airbus announced Tuesday its first airline order for the revamped A330neo wide-body jet. The tentative order for 50 planes from Malaysia’s AirAsia is worth more than $13 billion. Airbus has now collected orders for more than 100 A330neo jets, counting deals with leasing companies, Reuters reported.

Airbus unveiled the plane on Monday, saying it would be more fuel-efficient than existing A330s and would compete with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. Boeing said it was confident the new-technology 787 would standup to competition from a “refurbished A330.”

Boeing began the Farnborough Airshow outside London with a lead in airplane orders. But Airbus is winning at the air show, having secured orders and commitments for 398 aircraft worth $60 billion, including 105 A330neos, Reuters said. Boeing chief operating officer Dennis Muilenburg said the Chicago-based company announced orders as it booked them, rather than saving them for the air show.