ALEXANDER CAMPBELL / LONDON
Manufacturer considering other parts of business too as Piaggio denies 328JET interest
Alenia could reach a decision on whether to bid for the Fairchild Dornier 728/928 regional-jet programme before the end of this month following completion of its evaluation of the project on 5 July, the company says.
The Italian manufacturer has been evaluating the programme with a view to possibly combining it with its ATR turboprop venture, despite opposition from partner EADS to any integration (Flight International, 9-15 July). The Italian manufacturer is also still considering buying in other parts of the insolvent US/German regional-aircraft manufacturer. "We are interested in the aerostructures business and everything that has strength in the market," the company says.
Alenia's deliberations come as Italian business aircraft manufacturer Piaggio rejects reports it is interested in Fairchild Dornier's 328JET line.
Fairchild Dornier chief executive Thomas Brandt is reported to have told his staff in an internal memo that Piaggio was eyeing the 328JET. However, Piaggio's vice-president for aircraft sales in Europe and the Middle East Massimo Isidori says: "We absolutely deny this rumour".
He adds: "Like any other manufacturer we follow the situation with interest but I am not aware of any direct [Piaggio] interest...it makes more sense for Alenia, but it does not fit into our portfolio."
The only other interested party in the 728/928 is would-be regional jet manufacturer Alliance Aircraft of West Virginia, led by former 728/928 programme head Earl Robinson. It is unclear where Alliance would find the funding. The 728/928 will need up to $1 billion to complete development and certification, analysts estimate, but Alliance believes it could be done for as little as $200 million. The company will reach a preliminary decision "by Farnborough [air show]", it says.
Source: Flight International
