An offer by Swissair to contract maintenance to Sabena Technics, should the Belgian airline order Airbus narrowbodies rather than Boeing 737-700s, seems to have dampened unions' opposition to a decision in favour of the European consortium.
A presentation of the Airbus A319 was made to Sabena and union representatives in Brussels on 6 November, during which Swissair announced that it would be willing to place major maintenance work on Airbus aircraft to Sabena Technics if the Belgian flag carrier chooses the A319 to replace its 13 Boeing 737-200s, which are to be phased out by 2000.
The unions have now given up their "opposition in principle" to the choice of the A319. A decision is expected by mid-December.
The unions had expressed concern that up to 1,000 jobs at Sabena Technics could go if the A319 was selected rather than the 737-700, because maintenance on the European-built aircraft would go to Swissair's Zurich base or to its Shannon Aerospace division.
About 75% of Sabena Technics' 2,200-strong workforce is used in the maintenance of Boeing 737s, both for Sabena and third parties. Boeing has offered Sabena a maintenance joint-venture in its efforts to win the order (Flight International, 5-11 November).
Airbus says that Sabena "-has to face the fact that two-thirds of airliners flying in Europe are Airbuses and that Sabena Technics, the airline's maintenance subsidiary, will have to adapt if it wants to stay in business".
Swissair, which has a 49.5% shareholding in Sabena, is itself an operator of the Airbus A320 family and would like Sabena to re-equip with the A319 to reduce maintenance costs within the Swissair-Austrian Airlines-Sabena alliance.
Sabena is a major 737 operator, with some 15 CFM International CFM56-powered 737s in service alongside its 13 ageing -200s.
Source: Flight International
