Airbus, the European aircraft maker, yesterday secured its crucial first big commitment to buy the A350 with an order announced at the Paris Air Show from Qatar Airways for 60 aircraft valued at $10.6 billion (€8.8 billion) before heavy discounts.

Airbus is seeking to develop the A350 as a competitor to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which the US group is aiming to bring into service in 2008 and which has already secured 266 orders and commitments from 21 customers.

Qatar Airways is the largest all-Airbus operator in the Middle East, but that is set to change as the airline said yesterday that it was also planning to buy "at least" 20 Boeing 777s, worth $4.6 billion before discounts.

The deal was a critical one for Airbus to win, as it has recently lost a series of sales campaigns.