Reuters
Airbus eyes Saudi deal for almost 40 A350 jets -sources
(Reuters) -Saudi Arabia is in advanced negotiations to order almost 40 A350 jets from Airbus as part of a broader, multi-billion-dollar drive to launch a new airline and challenge heavyweight carriers in the Gulf, industry sources said. There is no guarantee of a deal but if confirmed, the purchase by the sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF) could be announced as early as this week when Riyadh hosts a major forum, the Future Investment Initiative (FII), the sources said. A final decision on the proposed deal, worth around $12 billion at list prices, depends on political approval at the highest level, with Boeing also lobbying for a slice of the expansion despite a chill in U.S.-Saudi relations, sources said.