Airbus and Boeing landed more deals for their new- generation long-haul twinjets last week.
Yemenia is to place firm orders for six 283-seat Airbus A350-800s and place options on another four. The Yemeni flag carrier has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus for deliveries from 2012, but has not selected an engine supplier. Yemenia, already an A330 operator, had been assessing the A350 against the rival Boeing 787 for its long-haul fleet-replacement programme. Yemenia also operates four Airbus A310-300s and three Boeing 737-800s.
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Meanwhile, Kenya Airways has signed a purchase agreement for six Boeing 787-8s to replace the carrier’s 767s. The first four 787s will be delivered in 2010 with the rest following a year later.
The airline completed retirement of its Airbus fleet in 2004, switching to an all-Boeing fleet of 21 aircraft comprising 737s, 767s and 777s. Kenya Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni says the 787 beat the competing Airbus offer of A350s on size, range and fuel efficiency, although it is believed that considerations of fleet commonality and delivery slots tilted the competition in favour of Boeing.
Source: Flight International
