AIRBUS SAS reached a goal of topping 500 orders for its upgraded A320neo aircraft by the end of the Paris Air Show on the second day of the event as carriers put pressure on Boeing Co to respond with an all-new airliner.

A passenger jet crashed in heavy fog and burst into flames on a main road in north-western Russia, just short of a runway whose high-intensity lights had failed, killing 44 people. Eight people survived.

Aerospace giant Airbus bettered its rival Boeing at the Paris Air Show today after it announced its third aircraft order, but competition has been muted by the recession this year.

The FTSE 100 Index lost hold of early gains today after retailers were unsettled by the prospect of another hike in interest rates next month.

Rolls-Royce opened the Paris Air Show in style today by unveiling the biggest-ever order for its civil aerospace division.

The prospect of a takeover battle for ICI left shares in the Dulux-to-chemicals firm at a fresh eight-year high today.

Banking stocks were under pressure today after Halifax Bank of Scotland sparked concerns over difficult trading in its mortgages arm.

Airbus came out fighting on the first day of the Paris Air Show, saying it has won enough orders to launch its mid-sized A350 jet after beating the rival Boeing 787 to a 60-plane deal with Qatar Airways.

Aerospace group Rolls-Royce today said it had won an $800m (€663.3m) jet engine deal from Air China.

When the new 550-seater Airbus A-380 debuts at the Paris Air Show next week, two Irish firms will have played their part.

Engine maker Rolls-Royce has signed a series of long-term engine support agreements with Qantas.

London’s FTSE 100 Index finally broke through the psychological barrier of 4200 today.

AIRBUS SAS and Boeing Co, the world’s two biggest planemakers, won orders from Emirates, the Middle East’s fastest-growing airline, for 67 new planes, which the carrier valued at as much as $19 billion.

London’s leading shares closed in positive territory today after drawing encouragement from a burst of activity on Wall Street.

London’s FTSE 100 Index remained close to its opening mark today as investors struggled to find reasons to enter the market.

Engine maker Rolls-Royce was today celebrating a multi-million pound contract to provide engines for airline Emirates.

THE Paris Air Show, the world’s premiere aviation showcase, opened to the public, flying buffs and professionals yesterday in the grip of the worst crisis in aviation history.

British Airways and Air France today signalled the end of nearly three decades of supersonic passenger flights by announcing that Concorde would retire from service at the end of October 2003.

Judicial authorities today seized aircraft at the Russian stand of the Paris Air Show, carting off jet fighters in a new chapter of a lengthy legal battle between Russia and a Swiss-based company.