AIRSHOW-Airbus hopes for more orders at air show

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - Airbus sales chief John Leahy said he hoped to double the tally of 24 orders taken so far at the Paris Air Show this week.
"I'd like to believe we could but we'll see," Leahy told Reuters Television in an interview on Monday.
He declined to say whether he could reach 100 orders at the show, a threshold which analysts consider the minimum required if Airbus is to approach its new 2009 orders target of "up to 300".
Orders are sharply down from 2008.
Leahy said financing had been secured for the European planemaker's remaining deliveries this year, but the jury was still out for 2010.
"Essentially, they (2009 deliveries) are now financed. The question is whether they will stay financed.," Leahy said.
Well over half of anticipated 2010 deliveries have been financed, Leahy added.
European credit agencies have been asked to raise the amount of finance offered to support aircraft deliveries to 50 percent of the total from 20 percent last year.
Airlines are currently getting about 40 percent of their finance from such agencies, Leahy said, adding "we will put some money in ourselves".
He added: "I think we are fine for 2009. The jury, however, is still a bit out for 2010."