British Will Place $1 Billion Jet Order

British Airways said Monday it is inviting five airplane makers, including The Boeing Co., to bid for an order of up to 60 regional jets worth $1 billion.

British Airways said that if it buys the airplanes, it will use some of them to replace 13-year-old Boeing 737-200s being used on British domestic routes, as well as routes into continental Europe.

In addition to Seattle-based Boeing, British Airways has asked for bids from Airbus Industrie, the European consortium; Avro, a unit of British Aerospace PLC; Fokker NV, of the Netherlands; and McDonnell Douglas Corp. of St. Louis.