The company - which produces wings at the Broughton plant in Flintshire - received 375 new plane orders in 2001, before cancellations.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou: Bid for new planes

Airbus now claims to have a 50.2% share of the aircraft-building market.

Earlier this month, the Toulouse-based consortium - which is 20% owned by BAE Systems - went head-to-head with Boeing to compete for the largest order ever placed by a low cost airline in Europe.

Easyjet plans to purchase up to 75 new aircraft after an increase in the number of passengers using the budget airline.

The deal is expected to pitch the world's leading aircraft makers into direct competition and could safeguard jobs at the Broughton plant.

The Flintshire-based company is looking to make around 300 redundancies after workers voted to accept its package of money-saving reforms following the terror attacks in America on 11 September.

This has the potential of being the biggest order of its kind

Mark Tami, MP

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami said further job losses could be prevented if Airbus wins the order.

"If - and at this stage it remains speculative - a company like Easyjet was to place an order for something like 75 aircraft you could not rule out building the employment number back up.

"This latest news does make Airbus look stronger right now than many were saying and has also shown Boeing that no market sector is safe from its European rival."

Redundancies have been announced at Broughton

Easyjet has expressed an interest in the Airbus A319 and the Boeing 737-700.

The company's Chief Executive Ray Webster said: "The Airbus A319 has not previously been operated by Easyjet or other low-cost airlines as its original capacity was limited to 145 seats - against the 149 seat Boeing 737 - 300/700.

"However, Airbus has now informed us that the A319 will be available with up to 150 seat capacity, which makes it a viable, competitive alternative."

Mr Tami has pledged his support for Airbus and has written to Easyjet chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannoau about the contract - reminding him of the close proximity of Broughton to Liverpool Airport - Easyjet's primary terminal.

He said: "This has the potential of being the biggest order of its kind.

"Airbus is yet to secure a major contract with a low cost airline and if it succeeds, then we could be looking at a whole new market sector for Airbus."