Air One, Italy's leading private airline, today announced an agreement with Airbus SAS, the world's largest plane maker, to purchase 24 new long-range aircraft - making the airline one of Airbus' largest customers in Europe.

A MAJOR international airline signed a firm order with Airbus for 35 aircraft at the Berlin Air Show yesterday. Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air is ordering 15 A320 single aisle aircraft and 20 A330-300s. The wings are made at Airbus's plant in Broughton, Flintshire.

Marsans, a Spanish travel company, announced a $7.5 billion deal for 61 Airbus planes Thursday, four of them the A380 superjumbo, Reuters reported from Madrid. The announcement comes just days before Airbus, a unit of EADS, delivers the first A380 to Singapore Airlines after two years of delays.

By MARIE NOLAN AER Lingus is doubling the size of its long-haul fleet in a deal that could be worth as much as E1.4bn. The airline has opted to buy 12 Airbus aircraft, rather than Boeings, and although the on-paper price of the planes is over the billion mark, a hefty discount has been negotiated.