Boeing in talks with Jet, BA
Published 9:00 pm Sunday, March 12, 2006
All kinds of interesting rumors being reported this morning.
First off (just because I stumbled across it first), Flight International reports http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/03/14/Navigation/177/205410/Indias+Jet+Airways+narrows+long+haul+aircraft+to+Boeing+747-8+and.html that Jet Airways of India is looking to launch service to the United States using 747-8 (presumably the passenger version).
Key Quote: “’We are talking to Boeing about the 747-8,’ says Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal. The Airbus A380 is also being evaluated, but Goyal believes the 550-seater is ‘too big’ for its requirements. ‘We are also talking to Boeing about the 787,’ he adds.”
That’s good news for 747 fans — Boeing has yet to land an order for the Interncontinental, the passenger version of the -8.
In other Everett news, British Airways let slip that it is in serious talks with Boeing about a deal for 10 777s, Flight reported. http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/03/14/Navigation/177/205404/BA+secures+ten+777+slots.html
Key Quote: “The revelation was made by chief executive Willie Walsh, speaking during the company’s annual investors’ day last week. Acknowledging that ‘some concern has been expressed’ about whether the airline would be able to obtain long-haul aircraft in a suitable timeframe for expansion, Walsh stressed that the aircraft have not been ordered and are ‘not on the airline’s books.’”
That’s in line with a report from Air Transport World http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=4308 , spotted by a sharp-eyed Friend of Blog.
Key Quote: “BA insiders confirmed … that the airline is in an advanced stage of negotiations with Boeing for up to 20 777-300ERs to replace some early delivery 747s from 2008. … It also is understood that the carrier is discussing the proposed 787-9 and 787-10 along with the A350 as a longer-term replacement for its 767s.”
And those busy guys at Flight also have an update http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/03/14/Navigation/177/205412/SIA+widebody+race+nears+finish.html on Singapore Airline’s decision on buying widebodies from Boeing or Airbus.
Key Quote: “Industry sources say an order was then expected just after Asian Aerospace, which ended on 26 February, but that the contest is now likely to run until at least late this month. … The airline confirms that orders are ‘still a little way off’ although it will not be drawn on when they may come.”
