Airbus Vows to Challenge the Secret Boeing 737 Deal that Stunned the Paris Air Show

yahoo ^ | 06/20/2019 | Benjamin Katz

[BenLurkin]

Speaking at a final press conference from Le Bourget airfield outside the French capital on Thursday, Airbus sales chief Christian Scherer said the European planemaker never received a request for proposals—a document that formally launches bidding for most major aircraft contracts—from IAG SA, the owner of British Airways.

The secret negotiations between Boeing and IAG led to the biggest surprise of the week-long show: a letter of intent from the carrier to purchase 200 of the Max aircraft, a model that is grounded following two fatal crashes. IAG is currently an Airbus-only narrow-body customer and has said it plans to use the planes for its discount and leisure divisions, including Vueling and Level.

“We are taking the position that we would like to bid for this business,” Scherer told reporters. “IAG is a very good customer. Every one of these airlines are A320 operators. Our intent is to bid.”

[NonValueAdded]

Brexit considerations maybe?

[Ingtar]

Without the EU requirement to buy Airbus, along with the subsidies, a grounded plane makes more sense. That should tell people a lot about the Socialist States of Europe.

[libertylover]

I never liked riding on Airbus planes. They were always too hot for some passengers and too cold for passengers a few rows apart. And oh yeah, I didn’t like it when the tail fell off of one of their planes and they blamed pilot error.

[Gay State Conservative]

I’ve flown the A320,A330,A340 and A380. The A380 is,in fact,a nice aircraft but nothing special.The others are even less noteworthy.I absolutely prefer Boeing and fly Boeing aircraft whenever possible.

[Seaplaner]

I've never been more squished in my seat then as a pax in an A320.

I know it varies by row and by airline, but the A320 hold the sardine record for this fairly frequent flyer. .

[rlmorel]

I am impressed with the size of the A380 and the building of a plane that big, but I am biased towards Boeing.

The 747 is an absolute jewel of a plane. I love it. And I always liked the 727.

I don't fly, but there is something in me when looking at the cockpit of a Boeing aircraft that make me think "Now that is a plane." I don't get that from looking at the cockpit of Airbus aircraft.

AIRBUS:380 COCKPIT

BOEING 787 COCKPIT:

I suspect it is because the Boeing cockpit has a distinctly military look to it, where as the Airbus cockpit is more kind of "sci-fi" or spaceship look.

From a flying or maintenance perspective, I admit to having no clue as to which is better.