THE FIVE AIRCRAFT manufacturers invited by British Airways to bid for a $1 billion order for up to 60 regional jets have been left facing some difficult decisions over how best to meet the UK flag carrier's requirements on delivery schedules and aircraft mix.
None of the contenders - Airbus Industrie, Avro International Aerospace, Boeing, Fokker and McDonnell Douglas (MDC) - can by itself meet BA's requirement for "...a mix of three sizes of aircraft - seating 80, 100 and 120 passengers".
In addition, BA has stipulated that deliveries are to begin in January 1997, causing additional problems for some of the bidders.
BA says that it expects to place around 30 firm orders and 30 options, and will use the aircraft on its own regional routes and those of its German affiliate, Deutsche BA, which expects to receive about half of the aircraft. BA says that an order decision is "...likely this summer".
It is unclear how many aircraft in each seating category are required, however. "We know what we want," says BA, "but we're looking for the manufacturers to come up with ideas as well." While BA warns that hushkitting "...some or all of the existing 737-200s is an option", observers see that choice as an opportunity for some airframers to offer hushkitted aircraft as part of their bids.
Airbus confirms that it will offer the 124-seat A319 "for all applications above 100 seats", adding that it "...has no plans" to develop a joint approach to satisfying the 80- to 120-seat requirement.
Avro is expected to offer a mix of RJ85s and RJ100s, but does not have an offering in the 120-seat bracket. Given the tight delivery schedule, the company might also have to consider raising production rates.
Boeing's new 737-600, meanwhile, is configured for between 108 and 132 passengers, but the US manufacturer is believed to be studying a "regional" version with a revised layout of around 100, although it could not itself address the 80-seat part of the bid.
Boeing also faces the problem of meeting BA's early-delivery timetable. The first -600 is not due to be rolled out until the end of 1997. Hushkitted aircraft or initial deliveries of the existing 737-500 might be options to overcome the problem.
Fokker says that it will be offering the 79-seat Fokker 70 and the 109-seat Fokker 100. The manufacturer adds that "...we've obviously got something in mind" to satisfy the total BA order.
MDC will offer its MD-95 as a contender in the 80- and 100-seat ranges, and is also aiming at the upper end of the UK carrier's requirement.
The BA plan calls for firm-order deliveries at least two years before MDC is due to deliver the first aircraft for ValuJet, however.
Source: Flight International
