Airbus SE kicked off the first day of Paris Air Show with two orders from Saudi Arabian customers valued at as much as $17 billion, giving the European planemaker an early lead over Boeing Co., which scaled back its activity at the event following a recent crash involving one of its jets.

PARIS (Reuters) -Saudi leasing company AviLease placed a firm order for 30 Airbus single-aisle jets and 10 A350 freighters in its first direct deal with the European planemaker, as Saudi Arabia's aviation ambitions kicked off the Paris Airshow on Monday.

Saudi Arabian plane lessor AviLease has signed a deal for up to 77 Airbus planes, featuring a mix of freighters and narrow-body passenger jets, as it seeks to become one of the world's top 10 lessors by 2030.