Another bad week for Boeing, as Kingfisher, the well-known supplier of beer to UK Indian restaurants buys a new fleet of Airbusses
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story...&IssueID=27274
Kingfisher Airlines to acquire 30 jets
BOMBAY: Kingfisher Airlines, an Indian budget airline backed by the country's largest beer company, said yesterday it had signed a deal with Airbus to purchase a total of 30 A320 jets for $1.8 billion.
Kingfisher, which expects to start its operations by the end of April, announced in July it had agreed to buy four A320s and had options to acquire eight more.
"The carrier has exercised six options, making a total of 10 A320s on firm order with options of a further 20 new aircraft," the company said.
"Kingfisher expects to take delivery of these A320s at a rate of up to nine aircraft per year until 2008."
It will operate a fleet of 8 new Airbus aircraft in 2005 and plans to add eight A320s to its fleet in 2006, the statement said.
Kingfisher Airlines is the brainchild of flamboyant tycoon Vijay Mallya, whose UB Group makes Kingfisher beer, India's largest selling brand.
The airline has already leased four A320s from French company Debis Air Finance.