The aviation industry could finally receive some good news. It just recently came out that United Airlines has placed a huge order of 50 planes from Boeing and Airbus. This deal is said to be worth some $10 billion and marks the first big order from the airline in over a decade.

The order is being split up equally between the Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets and the Airbus A350s and marks the first order by United Airlines in 12 years. This is the first time it has bought long range, wide body jets from Airbus.

Judging by the size of the order, it is expected that United Airlines was able to secure some pretty big discounts from both of the manufacturers. The airline also has the option on ordering another 50 from each.

Although the order has been placed, the planes are not due to be delivered until 2016. Thus, the United States carrier will only need to front about $60 million in cash to hold the deal. This is just a fraction of the ultimate cost, which will more than likely be paid out over the next three years.

The order comes just about four years after United Airlines emerged from bankruptcy protection, which was filled in 2002. However, it is a very welcoming sign for the airline industry as a whole, because it could be a sign that things are starting to look up.

United Airlines’ order is a key boost for both airplane manufacturers in a year in which their orders have seemed to have dried up. Many carriers have been forced to cancel a big number of their orders or at least postpone the delivery because of the big economic downturn.