Airbus basked in the world's biggest commercial plane order on Wednesday, with shares in parent EADS lifted by news of its $15.6 billion 180-aircraft deal with Indian airline IndiGo. The agreed purchase underlines India's development as a major aviation market and provides a welcome boost to EADS Chief Executive Louis Gallois, who has been pushing expansion into emerging markets as traditional markets falter.
It also gets an early blow in for Airbus in the annual battle with US rival Boeing for sales supremacy. "It is the best way to start the year. I can't underestimate the size and importance of this deal," Gallois told an annual news conference. The world's largest planemaker has so far reported 388 net plane orders up to end-November, or 440 before adjusting for cancellations. It delivered 461 planes in that period. Boeing sold a net 530 planes and delivered 462 in 2010.