Posted on 09/22/2007 11:34:53 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Air India Starts Talks With Boeing, Airbus; Eyes A380-Sources
September 21, 2007: 01:52 AM EST
NEW DELHI -(Dow Jones)- State-owned Air India has begun talks with Boeing Co. (BA) and Airbus to buy new planes including the A380 superjumbo, people familiar with the development said Friday.
In July, Air India said it plans to buy about 60 new passenger jetliners over the next few years and aims to start the selection and purchase process by mid- August.
"The airline is in touch with both Boeing and Airbus on the types of aircraft available and what will be required in the industry in future," said a senior airline executive, who didn't want to be named.
In March, the government approved the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines to take on rising competition from domestic and foreign rivals. The merged airline named Air India, which is run by the National Aviation Co. of India, has a fleet of more than 110 planes with an additional 111 on order.
"There is a committee in the airline which is discussing the ratio of planes to buy, how many small capacity and short haul and how many ultra-long range. It includes the A380 and the 747-800 model," the airline executive said.
In a move to modernize their aging fleets, Air India ordered 68 Boeing jets, worth over $11 billion at list prices in December 2005, while Indian Airlines placed a $2.2 billion order in February 2006 with European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (5730.FR) unit Airbus, for 43 planes.
"Air India has had preliminary discussions with Airbus and they have expressed interest in the A380," another person, who also didn't want to be identified, said.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
I wonder if that falling dollar is putting pressure on Airbus.
I wonder how high Boeing stock is going to go after this little announcement.
But no pictures of them sacrificing a goat in front of it to appease the sky gods into letting the plane work correctly like they did a Boeing not to many weeks ago ?
that happened in Nepal.
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