Indian airlines has finalized a deal to buy 43 Airbus passenger jets for US$2.5 billion (euro2.08 billion), the aircraft maker's chief executive said Monday. The deal had been in the works for some time, and was being signed in the presence of French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met in Delhi on Monday, said the chief executive of Airbus, Noel Forgeard. Under the deal, Indian will purchase A320 and A319 airplanes. At catalogue prices, that totals US$2.5 billion (euro2.08 billion), he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.