PARIS/LONDON: British airline and holiday group Jet2 is in advanced talks to buy dozens of narrow body passenger jets, with Europe's Airbus seen as the front-runner in a potential blow to Jet2's current supplier Boeing, industry sources said. If confirmed, the unusual decision by a leisure carrier to switch suppliers could involve the purchase of around 50 Airbus jets, worth some $5 billion before widespread airline industry discounts of at least 50%, one of the sources told Reuters.

"As a successful airline and tour operator we are constantly in discussion with different aircraft manufacturers; this is part of our normal course of business," a Jet2 spokesperson said.

Airbus and Boeing both declined comment.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources cautioned a deal would depend on the outcome of talks that are ongoing amid fierce planemaker competition in the wake of the coronavirus travel slump, but said Airbus was seen as current front-runner. One of the sources however said it was too early to speculate on a deal with the European manufacturer.