Brazil's Azul orders 35 Airbus jets worth $3.6 billion

A flight test engineer holds an Airbus Group flag in Colomiers near Toulouse, southwestern France, September 25, 2014. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

PARIS (Reuters) - Brazilian airline Azul Linhas Aereas has placed a firm order for 35 A320neo narrow-body aircraft, Europe's Airbus said on Monday. The order, worth $3.6 billion (2.3 billion pounds) at list prices, comes on top of 28 A320neo jets that the airline is leasing, it said. The airline has selected engines made by CFM International, co-owned by General Electric and Safran. Brazil's third-biggest airline unveiled plans in April to add 11 Airbus wide-body jets to start service to the United States from early 2015. Airbus said on Monday these aircraft would be leased and the number of planes earmarked for international routes now stood at 12 - initially seven A330-200s, followed by five A350-900s. (Reporting by Tim Hepher; editing by Susan Thomas)