Andrew Chuter/LONDON
BOEING HAS made a clean sweep of a $4 billion Malaysian Airlines (MAS) order for long-range, high-capacity, aircraft, beating Airbus and McDonnell Douglas (MDC) to a deal, which could eventually cover 65 aircraft.
MAS was expected to announce on 9 January an order with the US airframe company for ten Pratt & Whitney-powered 747-400s (plus three options) and 15 777s (plus two options). On top of that, the airline has 30 floating options on either type, which it can convert at a later date.
The first 747s and 777s are expected to arrive at MAS in early 1997, with further deliveries of aircraft on firm order running through to 1999 as the South-East Asian airline indulges in a massive expansion and renewal programme.
Boeing was always expected to win the high-capacity element of the order with its 747, but to win the medium-capacity section of the deal with its 777, the US manufacturer had to fight off fierce competition from Airbus, offering the A340, and MDC, with its MD-11.
The decision is another setback for Airbus, which has faced an almost unbroken string of Boeing successes recently in the wide-body, long-range market - the European consortium's only major recent win was a Philippine Airlines order in December 1995 (Flight International, 3-9 January).
The Malaysian decision also marks a new high point for engine-builder Rolls Royce, which has secured an order for the Trent 800 to power the 777s. On firm orders and spares alone, the deal is worth more than $400 million to R-R. The company declines to comment.
The MAS decision, immediately following a Singapore Airlines order for 34 Trent 800-powered 777s, projects the UK company from an also-ran in the big-twins battle to second place behind P&W, with General Electric trailing in third. With South African Airways and Singapore Aircraft Leasing still to choose engines for a further ten aircraft, the UK company could make further progress in the next few weeks.
Source: Flight International
