P.M. BRIEFING : Cathay Pac. in $2-Billion Airbus Deal

WASHINGTON —  Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific signed a contract with Airbus Industrie today for the purchase of up to 20 twin-engine wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft, in a deal worth $2.2 billion.

Cathay Pacific placed 10 firm A330 orders and took options on another 10 aircraft. The airline will begin receiving the A330s in January, 1995, and will use them on regional routes in the Far East. Each aircraft will seat 315 passengers in a three-class layout.

Cathay Pacific’s aircraft will be the first aircraft to be powered by the New Rolls-Royce Trent engine, generating 67,500 pounds of thrust. It is also the first time that a Rolls-Royce engine has been selected for an Airbus aircraft.