Royal Brunei Airlines has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for additional narrowbody aircraft, writes Leithen Francis.
"Our priority at the moment is narrowbodies," says chief executive Peter Foster, but he declines to disclose how many aircraft it covers. He adds that the carrier wants the first delivery in the "shortish term", probably next year. Aircraft types under consideration are Airbus A320/A321s and Boeing 737s, says Foster. He adds that the airline, which already operates A319s and A320s, would be "silly not to consider" rival bids.
Engine manufacturer CFM International will also be given an opportunity to bid even though there "is huge logic behind remaining with International Aero Engines [IAE]" should Royal Brunei order additional A320-family aircraft, says Foster, as IAE V2500s power its existing Airbus narrowbodies. In April 2003 Royal Brunei disclosed a plan to add 12 narrowbodies by 2013, of which half would be leased and half purchased. Since then it has taken delivery of two A319s and two A320s from lessor CIT.
Source: Flight International
