Poland Urged Not To Buy Boeing Planes

WBBM ^

[wk4bush2004]

LONDON (AP) The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have sent letters to the Polish government recommending it purchase planes from French company Airbus rather than U.S. rival Boeing Co.

Arkadiusz Godun, an adviser to Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka, confirmed Tuesday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had made their case for Airbus but said Belka had not made a decision on which planes to buy for the national airline.

"The prime minister received three letters from the three individuals and he acquainted himself with the offers but has not made any decisions," Godun said. "Each of the offers pointed out the positive qualities of the European offer."

Poland's national carrier LOT currently has an all-Boeing fleet of large planes, plus 16 smaller Embraer jets and 13 propeller-driven Aerospatiale-Alenias.

Airbus and Boeing have carried out a long trans-Atlantic rivalry to dominate the aerospace market.

Airbus has staked its future on demand for massive planes to transport a growing number of passengers, unveiling the world's largest commercial jet, the double-decker A380 "superjumbo," in January.

Chicago-based Boeing sees a different future, one in which industry deregulation and smaller, long-range planes like its planned two-aisle 787 Dreamliner -- scheduled to debut in 2008 -- allow passengers increasingly to fly direct, spurning stopovers.

[wk4bush2004]

This is pathetic. Airbus knows they're losing the battle with Boeing and so they're having the socialists speak on their behalf.

Boeing must be close to winning a 787 order from Poland.

When will Airbus play a fair game?

Everyone knows Boeing makes better planes.

[Sax]

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - New Airbus spokespeople? When's the new tv commercial come out?

[TXBSAFH]

If it ain't Boeing, I aint going.

[Sax]

Can you imagine, "Hi, I'm the US President George W. Bush here to talk you for a moment about Ball Park Franks..."

[TonyWojo]

The EU, The USSR, kind of sound the same.

[Time is now]

Hmmm. What's a better target, 250 passengers or 500?

[blanknoone]

I'd love to see President Bush send a short note to the Polish:

"I'm not going to try to tell you what planes to buy. You are a free country now."

[Porterville]

Is the incestial whoring of government and business called fascism? Or is that Nazism? I get the two mixed up.

[conservativecorner]

Someone explain to me why we aren't moving our bases from Germany to Poland? Let's help those who help us. We pump a crap load of money into the German economy, and we aren't appreciated by the population or the politicians. Poland has stuck with us through thick and thin, and we owe them our gratitude and loyalty.

[HMFIC]

We will, it just takes time. DoD knows that it is better to have them in Poland, etc. More training area, less Socialist panty-waists crying about the evil USA etc.

[wk4bush2004]

Definately 250. The 787 is much better than the A380. I think Airbus is starting to realize this and is freaking out. I don't think their A350 is going to help either.

I think the 787 is Boeing ticket to toppling Airbus' lead.

[antiRepublicrat]

I like Poland better all the time. First backing us in Iraq, then taking a stand against European software patents, and now this. They haven't backed down to pressure from rest of the EU so far, and I hope they don't do it now.

[pepperdog]

Ditto!

[Brilliant]

I read in the paper the other day that my local airport (Orlando) is going to be one of the first guinea pigs for the Airbus super-jumbo jet. My home lies under the flight path, so I'm not too happy about it. If the plane makes more noise than the average jet, you can be they'll hear from me.

[nikos1121]

Their new plane is unbelievably safe and efficient. I was watching a documentary on the testing of their jet engines. They had them set up and running and they were throwing everything in there next to a full sized elephant and they didn't miss a beat. Fuel efficient, quiet. I know from listening to Quantas certified pilot and actor John "Revolta"... that the Airbus is quite an achievement, liken it to a luxury ship in the air, but I think the public wants fast efficient and safe air travel.

nick

[longtermmemmory]

so basically please buy airbus because of politics and not passenger safety. That makes me feel better....

[Brilliant]

Do you really want to pull our troops out of Germany? Remember why they are there? Hint: It's not to provide local jobs.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

You mean European Union Socialist Republic E.U.S.R.

[dfwgator]

Hope the Poles tell them to "idz do piekle."

[wk4bush2004]

I don't think they'll bow to their pressure. LOT Polish Airlines and Boeing have a strong relationship and I don't think they'll trash it because the leading EU members say so.