Qatari and Saudi airlines place billions of dollars worth of orders with Boeing and Airbus

Qatar Airways bought US$13.5 billion (euro9.2 billion) dollars worth of planes from Boeing while a Saudi airline placed US$2.2 billion (euro1.5 billion) in orders with Airbus in a flurry of buying announced Sunday at the Dubai air show.

Middle East airlines are expanding rapidly as traffic in the region is growing due to four-year economic boom driven by high oil prices.

Qatar Airways ordered 27 Boeing 777 planes, including 22 that were previously listed with the American aircraft manufacturer, but only identified on Sunday, the opening day of Dubai air show.

The airline representatives said that Qatar Airways will also order 30 Boeing 787 …