By Joe Brock, Tim Hepher, Giulia Segreti and Paul Sandle PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus struck a deal with budget airline VietJet for up to 150 single-aisle jets at the Paris Airshow on Tuesday, where industry hopes for a return to tariff-free trade were given a boost by U.

Airbus SE predicted the global commercial aircraft fleet will double in size to almost 50,000 planes over the next 20 years, spurred by rapid growth in markets like India, where a rising middle class increasingly takes to air travel.

European aeroplane manufacturer Airbus announced Saudi and Polish orders for more than 100 aircraft at the Paris Air Show on Monday while US rival Boeing focused on “supporting customers” after the Air India crash.

The companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding for VietJet to buy 100 more A321neo planes, with the option to add up to a further 50 to the deal in future. The agreement confirmed an earlier Reuters story. A deal for 150 A321neos could be worth around $9.4 billion, according to estimated prices provided by Cirium Ascend.

Following the devastating Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed nearly 300 lives, Airbus emphasized that safety trumps competition. Christian Scherer, Airbus CCO, stated the tragedy is a reminder of aviation's inherent risks and the industry's commitment to preventing future accidents.

Air India, in its current form, has maintained a more balanced fleet, having taken delivery of 122 Boeing aircraft and 114 Airbus planes between 2006 and 2025