Paris: Orders at the Paris Airshow surpassed $100 billion on Wednesday, as planemakers Boeing and Airbus cashed in on demand for fuel-efficient jets and growth in both budget carriers and emerging markets.


Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, finalised an order for 175 Boeing 737-800 aircraft worth around $15.6 billion at list prices on day three of the aerospace industry’s showcase event, the largest single order ever placed by a European airline with the US group.


Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said he was also working on an order for 200 or more of Boeing’s next-generation 737 MAX planes this year, potentially worth around $20 billion at list prices.


Not to be overshadowed, Airbus sealed a long-awaited order for 25 of its lightweight, wide-body A350 planes from Air France-KLM worth $7.2 billion at list prices, as previously reported by Reuters.