Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Airbus Industrie is set to secure more key launch orders from European airlines for its new A340-500/600 following decisions by Swissair and Lufthansa to select the new models to replace their 747 "Classics". Firm orders are expected to be signed with Airbus soon.
Swissair has been evaluating the Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered A340-600 alongside Boeing's ultra-long-range offerings, the proposed 777-200X/300X and longer-range 747 proposals, but the airline is now focusing on Airbus for the replacement.
The airline has five 747-300s that it wants to replace, while its Belgian partner Sabena (in which Swissair's parent SAir group has a 49.5% holding) has two 747-300s that will need replacing. A firm order for at least five A340-600s is expected, plus additional options.
Swissair's requirement is mainly for the 378-seat A340-600, but sources close to the negotiations say that there could be a requirement for an ultra-long-range 313-seat A340-500 in the longer term.
Lufthansa is expected to finalise its order for an unspecified number of stretched A340-600s early next month. The airline is already a major A340 customer, with 16 A340-200/300s in service, and orders and options on a further 15.
Lufthansa declines to confirm whether an order is imminent, but sources say that the decision to buy the aircraft has already been made.
However, approval is required from the airline's supervisory board before an order can be announced. The board is expected to clear the order formally at its meeting on 3 December.
Sources say that the order will not only allow the airline's fleet of eight ageing Boeing 747-200s to be replaced, but it will also represent an expansion of Lufthansa's long-range fleet. Other unspecified aircraft are also expected to be ordered alongside the A340s.
When Airbus announced the commercial launch of the ultra-long-range A340-500 and stretched 600 at the Paris air show in June, the consortium said that it would make a full industrial launch when it had received a "significant" number of orders.
Since then, the consortium has signed Air Canada, EVA Air and Virgin Atlantic, which between them have placed commitments for 43 aircraft.
The consortium has also been working to launch the programme at the Dubai air show, which started on 16 November.
Other launch customers could include Emirates, Egyptair and Singapore Airlines (SIA). Cathay Pacific, which had been expected to be among the launch customers, is thought to have told Airbus that it cannot finalise an order in time for the launch.
Source: Flight International
