Airbus has secured a string of orders worth hundreds of millions of pounds for its airliners at the Paris Air Show this week.

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, has signed a firm order for 100 A320neo Family aircraft at the 52nd International Paris Air Show.

The deal is worth around £850m at list prices.

This new order brings the total number of Airbus aircraft ordered by GECAS to almost 600 aircraft.

The company makes wings for many of its airliners at its factory at Broughton.

Meanwhile, Air Lease Corporation, the Los Angeles-based aircraft leasing company, has signed a firm order for 12 additional A321neo aircraft at the Paris International Airshow.

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“The A320neo aircraft is an excellent product. GECAS is pleased to make this additional commitment for A320neos to meet strong customer demand for this type,” said Alec Burger, president and CEO of GECAS.

“The A320neo family aircraft powered by CFM’s LEAP-1A engines, with now proven increased fuel efficiencies, longer range and higher seating capacity will continue to be one of our core assets in our lease portfolio.

“The A321 version has also gained strong acceptance from customers in various new markets proving the versatility of the type.”

Dublin-based CDB Aviation Lease Finance DAC (CDB Aviation) has signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 45 aircraft, consisting of 30 A320neos and 15 A321neos.

CDB Aviation is on a fast track to becoming one of the world’s premier Chinese-owned aviation leasing companies.

“We are investing in the A320neo because we believe our customers will benefit from such an advanced aircraft. These aircraft will strengthen our overall aircraft portfolio and assist in the growth of our customer base,’’ said Peter Chang, CDB Aviation President & CEO.

The world's biggest passenger airliner, the giant 555-seater Airbus A380 passing over the wing assembly plant at Airbus UK's West Factory at Broughton, north Wales Airbus/PA.

Viva Air, the Latin America low-cost carrier group owned by Irelandia Aviation, signed an MoU for 50 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 35 A320neo and 15 A320ceo. The agreement paves the way for the group’s airlines VivaColombia and Viva Air Peru to base its fleet renewal and network growth on the A320 Family.

Viva Air recently launched Viva Air Peru, the sister airline of VivaColombia. Medellin-based VivaColombia operates nine A320 aircraft and Lima-based Viva Air Peru currently operates two, all with a capacity of 180 seats.

US-made Airbus

After announcing orders for 30 incremental Airbus A321ceo aircraft just last month, Atlanta, Georgia based Delta Air Lines has placed an order for 10 more of the aircraft.

Many of Delta’s A321s are being delivered from the Airbus US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. The airline received its first US-manufactured A321 last year.

By the end of 2017, the Airbus facility in Mobile is expected to produce four aircraft per month, most going to Airbus’ US customers.

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And Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, has placed an order for 10 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, enabling further development of its fast expanding long-haul route network.

Last June, Ethiopian Airlines became the first African carrier to operate the A350 when it took delivery of the first of 12 aircraft in order. Today the carrier operates a fleet of four A350s, two of which are on lease.

This order tops-up the Addis Ababa-based carrier’s fleet, enabling it to pursue its growth strategy and objectives over the coming years.

A380 upgrade

Earlier in the week Airbus unveiled plans to upgrade the world’s biggest passenger jet in a bid to boost flagging sales.

The A380Plus will boast a new wing design with large winglets and other wing refinements that allow for up to 4% fuel burn savings.

Airbus – which assembles the wings of the A380 at Broughton – also said the cabin had been optimised to allow up to 80 extra seats on the double decker aircraft “with no compromise on comfort”.

John Leahy, Airbus COO Customers, said: “The A380plus is an efficient way to offer even better economics and improved operational performance at the same time.

“It is a new step for our iconic aircraft to best serve worldwide fast-growing traffic and the evolving needs of the A380 customers. The A380 is well-proven as the solution to increasing congestion at large airports, and in offering a unique, passenger-preferred experience.”

There has been a slump in orders for the A380 plane as more airlines opt for smaller twin-engine jets.

Airbus said that along with other enhancements, the plane would cut costs for airlines by 13% per seat.