Airbus A350 orders top 500

Published 10:58 am Monday, November 16, 2009

Among the orders that Airbus has collected at the Dubai Air Show is request for A350s that pushes the jet over the 500-order mark.

Ethiopian Airlines placed an order for 12 A350 XWBs, which puts the firm order total for Airbus’ new jet at 505.

“The A350 will serve our market well, and I think this initial order will be the beginning of a very long relationship with Airbus,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake during an afternoon press conference at the air show. “It is a very good start for a long journey together.”

Ethiopian Airlines is the 32nd A350 customer.

Airbus also picked up an order for 10 A320s from Yemenia Airlines. And Comlux has ordered another Airbus Corporate Jet.

So far, Boeing hasn’t announced any new orders at the air show.