Don’t know what I was thinking … I was over at Starbucks this morning for an interview and I didn’t order chai, which was dumb, because I’m about to try reading tea leaves again, and actually having tea leaves in my to-go cup might have helped. Ah well.
Anyway … you may recall that just after Christmas, reports from Russia indicated that Aeroflot had decided to buy 20-or-so 787s, with the actual order to be placed in March. (See “Christmas leftovers” — http://www.heraldnet.com/blogaerospace/index.cfm?SR=21 )
A few weeks later, however, came news from France that Aeroflot had changed its mind and was ordering A350s. (See “Jet sales and real politik” below.) According to the report, that A350 deal was supposed to be the one that pushed Airbus over its goal of 200 orders for 2005.
Well, Aeroflot didn’t order A350s (and Airbus didn’t hit its target at 200 either). So the Aeroflot deal, it would seem, is still in play.
Earlier this week, Russian newspapers reported that Boeing had signed industrial agreements worth a total of $3 billion. The Moscow News carried this Retuers report that says http://www.mosnews.com/money/2006/01/24/boeing.shtml Boeing is buying titanium from Russia, while the Moscow Times (in a story that’s no longer available to non-subscribers) said Boeing also plans to hire more Russian engineers.
Key Quote, from Moscow News: “Russian media have speculated that Boeing will strengthen its position on Russia’s fast-developing civil aviation market amid reports that flagship Russian carrier Aeroflot may opt for Boeing long-haul jets instead of Airbus.”
Staring into the bottom of my coffee mug, looking at the grounds, I see … kind of a brown sludge. But my guess is that Boeing is sinking this money into Russia because:
A) It needs the titanium, and
B) It’s the step it needs to take to close the 787 deal. I think they’ve got it.
So, if I’m wrong, feel free to bust me on it later.
Speaking of strategic work placement, Stan Holmes at BizWeek takes a look at Boeing’s global offset strategy in this story http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_05/b3969417.htm , which appears to be part of a special report on outsourcing the magzine plans for its Jan. 30 issue.
Key Quote: “It doesn’t hurt that a Chinese worker can bend metal for a 737 tail section at a fraction of the cost it would take a U.S. worker. But that’s not the primary reason Boeing outsources to China: It’s to gain access to the fastest and biggest airplane market in the world, and that often means putting some manufacturing work in the country.”
China … they drink tea there, right?
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