Emirates places biggest A380 order

Dubai-based airline Emirates has ordered another 32 Airbus A380 "superjumbo" jets, the largest-ever order for the world's biggest passenger airplane.

The $11.5 billion deal would give Emirates 90 of the planes by 2017, and give the upstart carrier more seats on intercontinental routes than British Airways and Air France combined.

The airline received its first A380 in July 2008. It currently has 10 in its fleet, with another 48 already on order before Tuesday's announcement.

The order "affirms Emirates' strategy to become a world-leading carrier and to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel," said Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The pact also gives the Toulouse, France-based planemaker a boost, as its tries to turn hype surrounding its massive plane into financial gains.

Airbus's chief operating officer, John Leahy, said the company now has 234 firm orders for the superjumbo, with 30 planes already delivered and a total of 17 customers.

He hinted the company is in negotiations with several other airlines for A380 orders, but he declined to name names.

Boon for Airbus

The company's ambitious A380 program has been beset by numerous production and financial delays since it was first proposed in 2005. After originally hoping the superjumbo would be the company's salvation, Airbus is now targeting to break even by 2015 on the project.

Later Tuesday, Airbus announced a separate order from TAM of Brazil for 20 of its A320 single-aisle jets and five more of the A350 XWB widebody planes that the company is developing — an order with a catalog value of $2.9 billion.

Deliveries of the A320s will start in 2014 and the A350s are slated to start arriving in 2016. TAM already has 44 A320s and 22 A350s on order.