Boeing wins $4 bln FlyDubai deal as air show opens

Boeing Co struck first in its biennial battle with archrival Airbus by securing an order for 50 single-aisle 737 airliners as the world's biggest air show opened on Monday in Farnborough near London.
The deal from upstart FlyDubai is worth $4 bln including an additional four aircraft to be sourced from lessor Babcock & Brown.
Analysts expect this year's show to be slower than past events as record high fuel prices, tight credit and slowing economies squeeze airlines and hurt ticket demand.
One major deal expected this week is from Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways which is seen splitting it between Airbus and Boeing.
Etihad, which is following in the path of other fast-expanding Gulf airlines like carrier Emirates of Dubai, said before the show that it would soon order 50-100 planes, with the industry betting on the higher number.
Qatar Airways is also expected to buy Airbus jets this week.
High oil prices have opened a schism in aircraft demand between dozens of western airlines struggling to avoid bankruptcy and a new breed of majors from the Gulf, which are investing in large fleets backed by oil wealth and driven by a concerted push to develop the region as a crossroads for globalization.
Industry sources say one could include some business for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, whose production problems have pushed deliveries of the world's largest jetliner two years behind schedule.
Airbus is promoting the plane's fuel efficiency to appeal to airlines worried about soaring fuel bills, but Boeing says the industry needs few 525-seat planes.
International Lease Finance Corp, one of the world's largest leasing companies, is also seen lining up large orders.
It is looking to scoop up competitively priced planes to lend to airlines unwilling or unable to cough up for airliners outright as the industry enters a downturn, executives said.