Over in Paris, Boeing (BA 1.06%) is not the only company making out like a bandit with new plane orders. Yesterday, local "hero" company Airbus also had some good news to announce. Specifically, it's just finalized a firm order with Air France-KLM to sell the airlines 25 of its new A350-900 airplanes (which compete directly with the Boeing 787).
Air France-KLM are also taking out options to buy an additional 25 A350-900s at a later date. At a list price of $287.7 million, this week's order could mean as much as $14.4 billion in new revenue for Airbus if all options are exercised.
All of these planes will be equipped with Trent XWB engines from Rolls-Royce (RYCEY -2.72%), an engine which the companies say will help to reduce fuel consumption aboard the A350 by 15% compared to certain unnamed "current aircraft." Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance will be handling the maintenance of the engines going forward.
Air France-KLM clarified that this week's order finalizes an order initially announced back in September 2011, for 25 A350-900s -- and also for 25 Boeing 787-9s. The airlines subsequently announced an additional order to buy 25 Boeing 787-9s, and option 25 more.
Air France-KLM say they will begin flying the Boeing planes upon their delivery in 2016, with the A350s entering service two years later, in 2018.
