Why Airbus's huge deal with Saudi Arabia's new airline is a major win for the A350

Riyadh Air has options to buy up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 jets.

Bryan Van Der Beek/Airbus

• Riyadh Air ordered 25 A350-1000s at the Paris Air Show, worth over $4 billion at list prices.
• Emirates criticized the type's engines, and Qatar Airways temporarily grounded its A350s.
• It's a big win for Airbus, as Saudi Arabia's new airline could have used Boeing's 777X instead.

Airbus's enormous A350-1000 plane has attracted a lot of attention at this week's Paris Air Show.