WHITE ELEPHANT RECUMBENT:

Boeing beats Airbus to $1.6bn BA jet order (Michael Harrison, 22 February 2007, Independent)

Boeing won the first round in a $10bn (£5.1bn) contest with Airbus to re-equip the British Airways fleet yesterday, after the US plane-maker clinched an initial order for up to eight long-range aircraft.

BA is purchasing four Boeing 777-200ER aircraft and taking options on a further four in preference to the Airbus A330, in a deal worth up to $1.6bn.

The move is a setback for Airbus, which was thrown into renewed turmoil this week when its French and German shareholders failed to reach agreement on a critical restructuring of the company.