I think this is as close as anyone came, and Bishop later said it wasn't very close...
PARIS: BMA continues search as Boeing drops 717-100
Simon Montlake, Paris (18Jun99, 17:24 GMT, 460 words)
UK independent British Midland (BMA) says it is still interested in acquiring Boeing 717 aircraft despite Boeing's belief that there is no business case for developing the 717-100 shrink that BMA has been eyeing.
BMA is looking to replace its Fokker 100 fleet and held talks with Boeing earlier this year on acquiring the proposed 717-100, a 80-85 seat derivative of the basic 717-200. Airline chairman Michael Bishop said at the time he was trying to persuade Boeing to launch the -100 version with BMA as a possible European launch customer with an order for about ten, although he admitted Boeing would require further solid commitments before proceeding.
A spokesman for BMA says the airline is unfazed by Boeing's bearish comments on the 717-100 at the Paris Air Show this week, adding that the carrier has not set a timetable for renewal of its short-haul fleet. Much will depend on route growth and its short-haul fleet plans may be overshadowed by the hunt for new long-haul aircraft in the event that BMA is able to add more transatlantic services, he says.
However, the spokesman concedes that if Boeing does not go ahead with the 717-100, then "we would look at the -200". BMA is also assessing the competing Airbus Industrie A318 - it already operates A320s and A321s - and also considering regional jets for its short- and medium-haul routes, he adds.
Boeing expects to receive US and European certification for the 717-200 in September, shortly before delivery of the first production aircraft to launch customer US national carrier AirTran. But it admits that competition in the 90-100 seat range of jets is tough and reveals that it may look more closely at plans to build an extended 717-300X aircraft that would seat 125-130 passengers rather than pursue the 717-100 shrink.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes' vice president of product strategy and development, John Roundhill, says the manufacturer has no intentions at present of launching the 717-100 derivative, adding: "it does not have a viable business case so we have no plans to develop it".
A spokesman for the company insists that Boeing has not ruled out a future shrink version and would "wait for the market to speak". The standard configuration on the 717-200 - which flew today at the Paris Air Show - is 106 seats.
BMA, the second largest UK scheduled carrier, will begin evaluating two aircraft types next month for use on long-haul services - the 767-300 and A330-200.
A decision is expected by September, although acquisitions will depend on the airline getting permission outside the scope of the Bermuda II bilateral to operate UK-US scheduled services. It is seeking an exemption from the US Department of Transportation to launch services from London Heathrow to four US destinations.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news