KLM, which up to now have operated predominantly U.S.-made fleets, announced important buys of planes built by Airbus, a consortium backed by four European governments.

Some big orders give the European wide-body a boost

American commercial planemakers have long dominated the world skies, but their near monopoly is under assault. Last week The Netherlands’ KLM and West Germany’s Lufthansa, which up to now have operated predominantly U.S.-made fleets, both announced important buys of wide-bodied, twin-engined…