Airbus continued to make Farnborough 2000 its "superjumbo" show Tuesday, with almost $8 billion in sales and commitments from three customers.

International Lease Finance Corporation signed a letter of intent for five A3XX 555-seat transports, 62 single-aisle A320 family and 10 A330-100s. The sale, valued at $7.5 billion according to list prices, is a key one for Airbus as ILFC becomes the third company to sign a formal declaration for the A3XX since program launch last month. It also is the second potential launch customer for the foreshortened A330-500 (formerly called the A330-100) after CIT Leasing.

ILFC is Airbus' biggest customer, with over 400 jets ordered since it made its first purchase from the European aircraft manufacturer in 1987.

So far this year ILFC has ordered 132 Airbus transports, according to CEO Steve Hazy. The first A320-series aircraft from this order will arrive in third quarter 2001, with deliveries progressing through 2008. The A3XXs will begin deliveries in 2006.

Hazy said the A3XX was the "only way to progress" in the face of rapidly growing world air passenger traffic. ILFC studies indicate 30-40 city pairs would reach air traffic saturation point over the next five years, requiring larger transports to met passenger demand in the face of limited landing slot availability.

Hazy said his company's A3XX purchase is conservative, and that the new transports would only represent about 2% of ILFC's 250-strong widebody fleet in 2005.

Finnair added to the Airbus sales total with an order for six A320-family aircraft worth an estimated $300 million for 2002 delivery. Finnair is a recent Airbus convert, having placed its first order in 1997. It's been operating Airbus transports for only 15 months.

British Midland signed for two more A320s, worth an estimated $100 million. The carrier said it also plans to operate a fleet of up to 12 A330-200 widebodies on a planned new long-haul route structure. Deliveries of the these aircraft will begin next year.

By Paul Proctor