Li Ren 2 Report post Posted June 17, 2009 LE BOURGET, France (AFP) - - Airbus was the big winner at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, notching up 31 firm orders as it defended both its response to the recent crash of one of its planes and a decision to seek government development aid. The European consortium followed up an order for 24 A320 aircraft it won on Monday from Qatar Airways with an order from AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of leading low-cost Asian carrier AirAsia, for 10 Airbus A350 aircraft. AirAsia X said it had also taken an option to acquire five more of the wide-bodied A350, which is to be launched in 2013 to rival Boeing's 787. At catalogue prices the order for the 10 planes would be worth 2.4 billion dollars (1.7 billion euros). Airbus in addition announced that Philippines carrier Cebu Pacfific had placed a firm order for five medium-range A320s, which carries a catalogue price of 384.5 million dollars (276.6 million euros). Vietnam Airlines meanwhile firmed up plans revealed Monday to buy 16 Airbus A321 aircraft and announced an intention to buy two long-haul A350s. In another big deal, United Arab Emirates airline Etihad Airways said it had agreed engine and maintenance deals for its fleet worth some 5.78 billion dollars (4.17 billion euros). The biggest order was with US industrial conglomerate GE, which will supply Etihad Airways with engines for 35 Boeing 787s and 10 Boeing 777s alongside a maintenance contract in a deal totalling 3.9 billion dollars. The airline also announced a deal with Engine Alliance, a joint venture between GE Aircraft Engines and US engine maker Pratt & Whitney, to supply 45 engines and a maintenance contract for 10 Airbus A380 superjumbos. A third contract was with US consortium International Aero Engines (IAE), which includes Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, for 44 engines for 20 Airbus A320s and is worth 575 million dollars, IAE said in a statement. Airbus officials earlier Tuesday defended their handling of the recent crash of an Air France Airbus A330 over the Atlantic and insisted their planes were safe. Airbus President Thomas Enders, addressing a press conference, rejected a reporter's suggestion that the manufacturer had been "timid" and not sufficiently forthcoming in the aftermath of the June 1 crash of Air France 447, which killed all 228 aboard. "We do not speculate about the reasons for the accident," he said. "The investigating authority is not Airbus. The investigating authority is the (French) BEA. We offer support but we do not speculate about the reasons. There is no possibility to know at this point why Air France 447 really came down." Crash investigators have been looking at the possible malfunction of critical speed sensors on the aircraft. Airbus chief operating officer Francois Bregier asserted that "all our aircraft are safe," adding: "Our track record is the best evidence." Enders also insisted that Airbus plans to accept reimbursable government assistance to develop its long-haul A350 was legitimate. "This is a reimbursable loan," he maintained. "We pay back with interest rates and royalties on top. And governments have said in the past that this is good business." Airbus partners France, Germany, Britain and Spain have yet to decide how much money in government aid they will make available to the A350 program. France has said it is considering a contribution of 1.4 billion euros and Germany up to 1.1 billion euros. The United States and the European Union have long been at odds over government aid to their aircraft industries. Washington in October 2004 lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization, accusing European governments of providing subsidies to Airbus in violation of international trade rules. The European Union immediately responded with a counter-complaint on grounds that it is Boeing that takes advantage of unfair state assistance. "We're facing a competitor with an aircraft, not by our accounts but by European Union accounts, that is probably the most highly subsidised aircraft ever," Enders said. "And we want to level the playing field." Boeing on Tuesday accused Airbus of flouting world trade rules by trying to win government financing. "We're very disappointed that Airbus again is choosing to use governmental money to develop their plane when they have the money do it with their own resources, which is what a company should do," Robert Novick, Boeing's legal advisor, told AFP here. Novick said it showed "disregard" for the WTO as it prepares to issue a ruling on whether such financing violates international rules of commerce. Have to wait for four years before we can see D7's A350 at KUL Source Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waiping 12 Report post Posted June 17, 2009 No orders for Boeing? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted June 17, 2009 Have to wait for four years before we can see D7's A350 at KUL Source Well SQ has ordered 20 of these too, but I dun think they will be using it for the KUL-SIN route! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted June 17, 2009 While QR is threatening to cancel their 787 order, Airbus, clearly, is, indeed, a winner sofar at Le Bourget: Until now, they were successful with the following Airbus types: Qatar Airways - 24 A320-family aircraft Air Asia X - 10 A350-900 aircraft plus 5 options Cebu Pacific - 5 A320 aircraft Vietnam Airlines - 16 A321 aircraft plus 2 options on A350's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon 3 Report post Posted June 17, 2009 D7 = 10 x A350 MH = 0? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kee Hooi Yen 0 Report post Posted June 17, 2009 By year 2025, MH's tagline will be : "Experience Nostalgic Flights With The World Largest Ancient Fleet Airline" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alan B. 5 Report post Posted June 18, 2009 (edited) By year 2025, MH's tagline will be : "Experience Nostalgic Flights With The World Largest Ancient Fleet Airline" hahaha! Good one!If MH is waiting for a economic recovery before they make their purchase, they will get them just in time for the next economic downturn! Edited June 18, 2009 by Alan B. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waiping 12 Report post Posted June 18, 2009 By year 2025, MH's tagline will be : "Experience Nostalgic Flights With The World Largest Ancient Fleet Airline" Like flying the DC-3 again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon 3 Report post Posted June 18, 2009 Traffic at KUL is like 4 AKs vs 1 MH..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted June 18, 2009 While QR is threatening to cancel their 787 order, Airbus, clearly, is, indeed, a winner sofar at Le Bourget Boeing is probably more dependent on US airlines for their business. Right now, US airlines are in bad shape and the healthier ones have already placed their orders. Boeing aircraft is also traditionally more costly - so in times of recession, the cheaper alternatives (Airbus) should be getting more orders. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Li Ren 2 Report post Posted June 19, 2009 LE BOURGET, France (AFP) - - The Paris Air Show yielded only a handful of big sales with airlines in no mood to shell out billions of dollars in the midst of global recession. In the four days starting Monday reserved for dealmaking, European manufacturer Airbus announced just three major orders worth a total of 6.0 billion dollars (4.3 billion euros). US rival Boeing's haul was limited to two planes at a total catalogue price of 153 million dollars. During the 2007 edition of the biennial show, and well before the onset of an economic crisis that would drain demand for aircraft and air travel, Airbus and Boeing won 800 orders worth more than 100 billion dollars. The show, 100 years old this year, will now open its doors to the general public for three days starting Friday. Crowds of visitors will inspect planes, helicopters and weaponry on display, craning their necks to watch some of the aircraft in action over Le Bourget, near Paris. "We were not expecting very much and there wasn't very much, with airlines still hesitant," said analyst Yan Derocles of Oddo Securities. "There is no consensus on a recovery," he added. Another analyst, Zafar Khan of Societe Generale bank, said he had been surprised by the fact that "neither Airbus nor Boeing seems very worried about 2010." Senior officials from both companies earlier this week said they saw hope for a rebound in the global aviation sector next year. "We find that puzzling, given that the current decline in air traffic is going to lead to net and operational losses," Khan said. Just ahead of the Paris show, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicted an 8.0 percent decline in passenger numbers this year to 2.06 billion compared with 2008 and said airlines could lose 9.0 billion dollars, almost double the estimate three months ago. Khan predicted that under these circumstances, airlines will likely have to reduce capacity, serving fewer destinations less frequently or with smaller planes -- a situation hardly conducive to big ticket purchases. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted June 19, 2009 Some more A320 orders: -Wizzair signed a Letter of Intend for another 50 (!) A320's -China Eastern ordered 20 A320's How many orders did Boeing yield at Le Bourget ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted September 29, 2009 Emirates reconsidering A330 for off-peak operations Thursday September 24, 2009 Emirates may be in the market for more aircraft at November's Dubai Airshow and is revisiting the prospect of operating up to 30 A330s during off-peak periods, President Tim Clark hinted when speaking to ATW yesterday. EK signed a letter of intent for 30 A330s in July, 2008 when it took delivery of its first A380, but the order was never confirmed and eventually lapsed as fuel prices soared and the economic downturn took hold. "We are revisiting the off-peak situation," Clark told ATW. He sees a potential need for service between the four major peaks at Dubai to new secondary cities, where connection times through DXB are not as critical and could reach 3-4 hr. instead of 90 min. They would not be routes targeted to business travelers. He noted that now is a "great time to buy" aircraft. But he poured cold water on a possible 747-8I order, saying the A380 is generating such high loads that the Boeing offering is "no longer an option." Boeing has attempted to interest EK in the 747-8I for a number of years, but range and interior configuration issues have been stumbling blocks. The airline has ordered 10 747-8Fs with 10 options. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted September 29, 2009 (edited) Emirates reconsidering A330 for off-peak operations He noted that now is a "great time to buy" aircraft. But he poured cold water on a possible 747-8I order, saying the A380 is generating such high loads that the Boeing offering is "no longer an option." Boeing has attempted to interest EK in the 747-8I for a number of years, but range and interior configuration issues have been stumbling blocks. The airline has ordered 10 747-8Fs with 10 options. Why MH is hesitates to take delivery of A380? Edited September 29, 2009 by KK Lee Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flee 5 Report post Posted September 29, 2009 By the time MH receives its A380s (2011, if I remember correctly), flying on the A380 won't be such a novelty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KK Lee 5 Report post Posted September 29, 2009 By the time MH receives its A380s (2011, if I remember correctly), flying on the A380 won't be such a novelty. Before 787 is introduced, believe most travelers will choose A380 over 77W, 744, 346. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
