Airbus is set to announce a record $16 billion plane order at the Paris Air Show. Indian budget carrier IndiGo is to purchase 180 A320neo jets, the European plane maker’s top-selling single-aisle aircraft.

The healthy demand from buyers at the world’s biggest air show has provided evidence that civil aviation recovery is underway, powered by Asia. High fuel prices are also seeing a sense of urgency to buy fuel-efficient planes.

Meanwhile an Airbus A380 damaged at the weekend after one of its wingtips collided with a building while taxiing is also set to return to the skies.

The return comes as Qatar Airways is expected to place a $375 million order for superjumbos.

Airbus has outsold arch rival Boeing in the first two days of the show, registering around $26 billion of orders dominated by sales of its revamped A320neo family.

Boeing has announced orders worth some $19 billion at the show, dominating sales of more expensive wide-body aircraft.

However the Seattle based aviation giant remains undecided whether to upgrade or redesign its top-selling single-aisle 737 as competition mounts from manufacturers in Brazil, Canada, China and Russia.

Boeing conceded it might lose some custom while it ponders the future of its 737. The company said on Sunday it would decide by year-end on its new strategy.