Qantas’ board of directors will meet in a few hours to discuss competing proposals from Airbus and Boeing for up to 100 widebody jets.
I haven’t seen a schedule, but if they start meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday Sydney time, that’s 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon here in the New Jet City. I also haven’t heard anything about when to expect an announcement, but I’m hoping they hold off till Thursday morning, Sydney time — I’ve got a date tonight.
In any event, The Age in Melbourne advances the meeting with this story http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/qantas-to-fly-into-a-20-billion-future/2005/12/13/1134236065888.html that quotes the conventional wisdom — that being the expectation that Qantas will split the order between Airbus and Boeing.
Key Quote: “The new Airbus A350, which will carry up to 300 passengers on long-haul flights, could be particularly suited to Jetstar International’s routes. … The 747, carrying about 400 people, is suitable for the long hauls to London via Asia and to the US. Qantas is also likely to choose the Boeing 777 ultra-long-distance plane.”
Last week, however, the rival Herald Sun in Melbourne reported that Qantas will not split the order. (To see my Dec. 8 post http://www.heraldnet.com/blog/display_blog.cfm?bid=822&day=08&startmonth=12&startyear=2005&id=1 )
Key Quote: “Mr Dixon later told that both bids, worth upwards of $20 billion (Australian), were close. But he indicated it would be a case of winner takes all for the successful bidder. Qantas was not contemplating a mixed Airbus-Boeing fleet.”
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