国际英语新闻：Airbus lifts average jet price by 5.8%

PARIS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The European plane maker Airbus announced on Friday its plan to lift its catalogue price of current jets by 5.8 percent in average, the first price hike in two years.

The European aircraft manufacturer raised the proposed A350-380 's price by 7.8 percent to 225 million U.S. dollars and lifted the list price of A380 superjumbo to 346.3 million U.S. dollars from 327 million dollars.

The list prices for A350-900 and A350-1000 were also hiked by 5. 8 percent.

The price hikes were caused by "the continuing strength of the Euro against the U.S. dollar and the ongoing financial challenges ahead," said John Leahy, the Airbus Chief Operating Officier- Customers.

Airbus sells planes in dollars but pays its employees and other expenditure in euros. Strong euros plus the recent financial shortage on Europe's largest defense project A400M forced the group to take action.

Last February, Airbus' archrival Boeing Co. raised its list price.

Airbus delivered 498 aircraft in 2009, a historical record, and exceeded Boeing's annual sales.

The price hike applies to aircraft ordered from January 2009 onward. However, as customers pay the bill on delivery that may take a few years, Airbus won't benefit from the price increase immediately.