Airbus kicks off sales campaign, wins $9.2-bn order from Asian carriers

Airbus SE kicked off its sales campaign at this year’s biggest air show by announcing $9.2 billion of orders from Asian carriers that are augmenting their fleets to meet surging demand for air travel in the region. Taiwanese start-up StarLux Airlines said it is buying 12 A350-1000 aircraft and five of the smaller A350-900s in a deal valued at $6 billion at list prices that exclude customary discounts. Sichuan Airlines will purchase 10 of the wide-body planes. The A350-900 carries a tag of $317.4 million apiece, valuing the mainland carrier’s order at $3.2 billion. Besides the above two contracts, the Toulouse, France-based planemaker is also working on a blockbuster agreement to sell $23 billion worth of aircraft to AirAsia Group Bhd., the continent’s biggest budget carrier, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified discussing private talks. Sichuan Airlines and StarLux are among carriers boosting jet orders from Asia as more people in the region take to the skies for leisure and business.