Air China is assessing engines for its planned fleet of Airbus A330-200s, which it hopes to start taking delivery of next year.
Industry sources say the Beijing-based flag carrier has invited General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to submit offers for engines. Bids are being assessed.
Although no A330 order has been announced by Air China or Airbus and it is still not certain that a deal will be approved by Chinese authorities, the airline is known to have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) late last year to purchase the twinjets (Flight International, 19-25 October 2004).
State-run media say Air China is close to ordering 20 A330s.
NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
