Monday November 17, 10:05 AM AEDT
Qantas Mgmt To Recommend Airbus For Discount Ops- Source
SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Qantas Airways Ltd. management is expected to recommend to its board the acquisition of a number of Airbus A320s for its low-cost budget airline, according to an industry source Monday.
Qantas is believed to have told Boeing Co. late last week that it was unsuccessful in securing the contract for the budget airline, which will takeoff in May.
The Australian national carrier hasn't said how many planes it will buy for the offshoot or how many planes it will use from its existing fleet. By mid-2005, the budget domestic airline will have a fleet of 23 aircraft.
Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon told reporters last Thursday that a recommendation will be put to Qantas' board early this week.
Qantas wasn't immediately available to comment on the plane order.
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