Unions at Sabena have intervened in the fight between Boeing and Airbus to secure a contract to replace the carrier's Boeing 737-200 with a threat of industrial action if the airline decides in favour of the Airbus A319.
The Belgian flag carrier is due to make a decision in December on replacing its 13-strong 737-200 fleet. The airline, 49.5% owned by Swissair, with the remainder held by the Belgian Government, is known to favour Airbus. The unions, however, fearful of losing 1,000 jobs at the airline's maintenance arm, Sabena Technics, are supporting the Next Generation 737 family to operate alongside the 13 Boeing 737-300/400/500s being maintained in service after the year 2000. The issue has even been raised in the Belgian Parliament.
The unions, whose traditionally huge influence on decisions at Sabena is waning under the Swissair management, say that selection of the A319 would result in maintenance work on the aircraft going to Swissair - which is already a big Airbus operator. In addition the 2,200 workforce at Technics also faces a threat from dwindling third party maintenance, which accounts for about 75% of its work, as its customers re-equip.
Airbus has reserved slots on the Hamburg production line for the Sabena aircraft and, to deliver the first four in 1999 as required by the airline - followed by nine in 2000 - it is pushing for a decision in November rather than December. It is possible that Aero International (Regional) may secure some orders with its Avro RJ100 - already in the Sabena inventory.
Concern over the Sabena union's influence has resulted in local Airbus components supplier Belairbus weighing in on the side of the A319. Belairbus partners - Sonaca, Asco, Eurair and Sabaca - argue that with some 1,250 people directly employed, and a further 7,500 indirectly, more jobs are at risk long term nationally if the decision goes in favour of the 737.
Source: Flight International
