Airbus Discusses Sale of Jets to Continental

Airbus Industrie Inc. is negotiating to sell long-range jetliners to Continental Airlines Inc., a spokesman for the European aircraft maker said. The Financial Times of London reported that Houston-based Continental was close to awarding a contract for as much as $5 billion for 40 Airbus planes. The paper said Gordon Bethune, Continental’s chief executive, hinted in an interview that Continental is leaning toward the Airbus A330-200 plane over Boeing Co.’s comparable 777. Analysts said Continental’s next order will probably go toward expanding its fleet rather than replacing older planes. Continental needs more wide-body jetliners as it seeks to increase its flights between the U.S. and Europe, analysts said.