A proposed hypersonic passenger jet that could carry passengers from Tokyo, Japan, to Los Angeles, US, in two and a half hours has been unveiled by EADS at the Paris Air Show.

EADS believes that the aircraft could be standard by 2050 and would be capable of operating at Mach 4 speeds.

Powered primarily by liquid hydrogen and biofuel, EADS also claimed that demonstration technologies could be available by the end of this decade.

EADS’s parent company, Airbus, continued to unveil large orders, building on a strong initial two days at the show. Further orders announced on Wednesday included a 30-aircraft order from Kuwait-based leasing company Alafco, worth approximately $2.7bn.

Airbus competitor Boeing responded, buoyed by Tuesday’s arrival of its 787 Dreamliner, by announcing an initial agreement with Russia-based UTair Aviation for 40 Boeing 737 aircraft worth $3.2bn at list prices.

Total business concluded at the show is now expected to exceed $60bn.