Airbus sign £4bn deal with Etihad Airways

European aircraft maker Airbus signed a deal worth more than almost £4bn (€6bn) to sell 24 airliners to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, including four of its new A380 superjumbo jets.

Airbus said the deal, which is the biggest announced at the Farnborough international air show so far, includes options for Etihad to buy another 12 aircraft.

Airbus is developing the A380, which will seat about 550 passengers, to fill a demand it sees for super-size planes flying large numbers of passengers between specific cities.

Airbus has now pre-sold 133 of the A380s.