Air France-KLM is committed to a major order for Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s but is growing increasingly frustrated with the airframers over their inability to provide certainty around the projects.
"The manufacturers are not willing to give us fixed dates and [aircraft] specifications," Peter Hartman, president of KLM told ATI and Flightglobal at the group's annual results press conference.
The group has sent a request for proposals for 100 aircraft to each manufacturer for deliveries that it requires from 2014 but this is "hanging", says Hartman. "We need them in 2014. As soon as positions [are confirmed] we will start ordering." He is hoping for more certainty from the airframers by the end of the year.
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Air France-KLM requires the mid-size widebodies to replace A340s and the oldest 747s at Air France and MD-11s at KLM, says Hartman. "The order will most likely be a mix of the two aircraft [the 787 and A350]," he says, with the first deliveries having to be leased.
KLM had secured delivery positions for 787s from the Royal Bank of Scotland but when this bank pulled out of the leasing market last year it lost those aircraft, says Hartman. The group remains active in the leasing market looking for 787s, he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
