EUROPEAN plane maker Airbus has won its first customer for its new 245-seater Airbus A350.
Air Europa of Spain has signed a memorandum of understanding for 10 of the new planes and two further options.
UK aerospace company BAE Systems has a 20 per cent stake in Airbus and builds the wings for the Toulouse-based company.
Offered as a sister aircraft for the Airbus A330, the A350 is due to be delivered between 2010 and 2012.
The A350 was given the go-ahead by Airbus earlier this month. The company has outfought rival Boeing in terms of planes sold this year.
Airbus president Noel Forgeard said: "Only days after the approval from our shareholders to offer this aircraft on the market, Airbus is already in the position to announce its first customer for the A350, demonstrating that the A350 indeed corresponds to market needs.
"Air Europa is a fast-growing airline in a market that is very important and we are proud of their confidence. We are sure it will be followed soon by more airlines showing their interest in this latest Airbus product."
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