Swissair Orders 26 Planes From Airbus

Swissair chose European aircraft maker Airbus Industrie Friday over McDonnell Douglas Corp. to provide 26 new airliners in an order worth at least $1.8 billion (2.3 billion Swiss francs), the biggest aircraft order in the airline’s 60-year history.

The airline, which took options on additional 26 aircraft, said it would buy seven 133-seat Airbus A320s and 19 170-seat A321s. The type of engine to power the aircraft will be decided later.

Deliveries in the deal will begin in January, 1995, and end in March, 1998. A spokesman said the $1.8 billion covered the 26 firm orders. The options, if exercised, would require a further payment for the additional planes.