Airbus and Boeing split big plane order

AMERICAN Airlines will buy at least 460 planes over the next five years in what it calls "the biggest airline order in history".

In a victory for Airbus, American is splitting the work between the European plane maker and US rival Boeing.

American said yesterday it will buy 260 planes from Airbus and 200 from Boeing. The carrier expects the more fuel-efficient planes to provide much-needed cost savings.