Qatar Airways has ordered 24 aircraft worth USD 1.9 billion from Airbus, as part of its business expansion strategy.

The announcement came alongside another deal with Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, which won a USD 230 million share of an order from the airlines for V2500 engines to power a total of 20 Airbus A320 and four A321 aircraft.

"Deliveries of the new aircraft are due to begin in November 2009, running through to the end of 2012," Qatar Airways told newsmen at the Paris Air Show.

The agreement with Airbus includes 20 A320s, as well as the firming up of four A321 aircraft announced at the Farnborough air show last year.

The Doha-based airline currently operates 19 aircrafts of the A320 family.

The new aircraft, configured with a two-class cabin, will be deployed to enhance and expand services on regional, eastern European and southwest Asia services.

Akbar Al Baker, the chief executive officer of Qatar Airways said: "We have a reputation for selecting only the best for our airline and we know from experience that the V2500 is the superior technology engine for the A320 family".

"The additional Airbus 320s and A321s give Qatar Airways a firm footing in the rapid development and expansion of our regional network," he said.