PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC
Airbus and Boeing are both in the running as South African Airways decides on long-haul fleet renewal
South African Airways (SAA) is to decide between Airbus and Boeing for its new fleet of 15 medium-size long-range passenger jets by the end of the year, following the submission of bids last month.
The deal is likely to incorporate additional narrowbody aircraft, and with sales opportunities rapidly drying up in the wake of the 11 September attacks, the competition will be intense.
The two manufacturers submitted bids on 24 October, and are expecting a decision perhaps as early as the end of the year. The airline has prevaricated for years over the choice of a new long-haul aircraft and, at one stage, was set to take Boeing 777s before deciding, instead, to modernise its narrowbody fleet.
SAA is looking to order a much larger number of aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of 13 Boeing 747-200/300/SPs. The Airbus A330/A340 family is up against the Boeing 777-200ER, with the option of upgrading the final six aircraft to the ultra long-haul A340-500/600 or Boeing 777-200LR respectively.
The airline is also looking to acquire additional narrowbody aircraft to supplement its fleet of 21 leased and purchased Boeing 737-800s. Given Airbus' determination to reverse its earlier setback with SAA phasing out the A320 in favour of the Boeing 737, the competition is likely to be tough.
"The airline is out shopping, and there is not a better opportunity than now to go bottom fishing," says one industry observer.
Meanwhile, Boeing is trying to convince Kenya Airways to take 777s in place of the 767-400ERXs the carrier had planned to order until the programme was shelved earlier this year.
Airbus had been trying to overturn the deal with an offer of heavily discounted A330s, but there is little indication the airline is in any hurry to replace its leased Boeing 767-300ERs.
Source: Flight International
