United States plane manufacturer Boeing has criticised a German government decision to offer rival Airbus a £1 billion loan. The American company has also attacked the timing of the decision, with the WTO expected to outlaw any further financial support this week.

The aviation industry has received one of the clearest signals yet of embarking on the road to recovery after United Airlines placed an order for 50 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, worth almost $10bn, and marks its first order in over a decade.

Airbus has trounced its bitter rival Boeing at the Dubai Air Show by received five times more orders by value. It received US$5.3bn in orders and letters of intent, against two orders worth US$800m from Boeing. However sales were down dramatically from the last time the biannual show was held in 2007, when they received a combined order worth US$75bn.

Airbus has revealed it has won an order from Ethiopian Airlines, a long-term Boeing customer for 12 of its new A350 XWB aircraft in a deal valued at about $2.8 billion at list price, bringing its total worldwide orders for the plane to 505.

Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), Saudi Arabia’s national airline, has taken the delivery of its first Airbus A320 becoming the newest operator of the aircraft. The aircraft was acquired under a long term lease agreement with ALAFCO.

Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer John Leahy has revealed he is optimistic that the airline industry is recovering — although he warned that financing conditions remain tight. The company says airlines will buy 25,000 planes worth $3.1 trillion over the next 20 years, buoyed by Asian sales and increased demand for single-aisle models.