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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Boeing claimed a victory against rivals Airbus as it chalked up $4.5 billion in plane orders this week for its new 787 jets. Continental Airlines upped an existing order and operators from Russia and Kuwait agreed to buy more planes. The orders underline airlines' excitement about the U.S. plane maker's new 787 Dreamliner -- set for test flights this summer -- and keep the pressure on European rival Airbus, which has seen its share of the lucrative wide-body and freight markets slide dramatically. Continental ordered five 787s, worth about $900 million, increasing its orders for the new plane to 25. Continental is currently the biggest U.S. buyer of Boeing's new carbon and titanium jet, which will be able to service fast-growing routes between the United States, Asia and Europe, promising big fuel savings due to its lower weight. The plane has been making a positive impression on airlines around the world, racking up 464 orders as of last week, after launching in 2004. Continental, which previously ordered 20 787-8s, said it would buy five of the larger 787-9 models and would convert 12 of the original orders for 787-8s into 787-9s. That means Continental now has on order 17 787-9s and eight 787-8s. The 787-8 version is designed to carry 210 to 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles. The larger, more expensive 787-9 can carry up to 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles. Both planes could service routes such as Chicago to Tokyo or Los Angeles to Paris. More orders came in from other parts of the world. Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance has agreed to buy 12 787s, along with six smaller 737-800s, for a total of $2.26 billion at list prices. Russian air cargo company Volga-Dnepr also signed a $1.4 billion deal for five new 747-8 Freighter planes, with an option to buy five more. At the end of February, Boeing had 64 plane orders, the same number as it did at the same time last year, when it emerged as the best-selling plane maker for the first time since 2000. Airbus had orders for 97 planes on its books at the end of February. Reuters contributed to this report. A mock up of Boeing's 787 interior with "dynamic lighting." Quick Job Search |