A huge commitment for Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s by Qatar Airways took top billing yesterday here in Paris. The Qatar announcement involved a total of 60 A350-800s and -900s along with a mix of 20 Boeing 777-300ERs, -200LRs and -200F freighters.

On hand for the announcement, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the Boeing deliveries, about half of which would involve 300ERs, would happen between 2007 and 2010, followed by A350 deliveries starting in mid-2010 and ending in 2015.

The Qatar announcement followed a pair of other A350 commitments, one from Air Europa for 10 and another from America West/US Airways for 20, confirmed here yesterday by Airb