The year's biggest air show opens near London next week, with all eyes on planemaker Airbus and its secretive plans for an all-new, mid-sized plane to challenge resurgent rival Boeing Co..

The two planemakers waged a feisty battle at the biennial event last time as the biggest winners in $21 billion worth of business deals announced.

This year, the France-based company faces mounting pressure to reveal its mystery plane, which analysts say could cost $10 billion to build.

Industry sources and analysts say Airbus's top salesman, John Leahy, will be working hard to sell the concept and could have deals to announce at the Farnborough air show, which opens on Monday.

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