Vmo248
15th Apr 2004, 07:34
Air New Zealand is tipped to buy a fleet of Airbus A330 twin-engine jets, worth up to $1.2 billion, to replace its Boeing 767-300 aircraft on medium to long-haul routes.
Industry sources have said a decision will be announced in June, about a month earlier than indicated by the airline.
Air New Zealand is believed to be evaluating Airbus and Boeing options still.
It is expected the board will be presented with the favoured aircraft types by the end of May.
Price negotiations with both manufacturers would follow, with a final decision expected about mid-June.
Boeing was offering its 777 range and the smaller 7E7, which does not go into production till 2008.
However, an industry source said indications were that Air New Zealand would settle on the A330 range. These aircraft can fly the Pacific and Southeast Asia routes serviced by the nine 767-300s they would replace.
Top Air New Zealand managers were at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, at the end of last month. It is understood that the visit prompted Airbus executives to pull out of an important transport conference in Sydney at the same time, though Air New Zealand managing director Ralph Norris attended.
No other South Pacific airline flies the Boeing 777. That and the four-year wait for the 7E7 counted against Boeing's chances, the source said.
Air New Zealand spokesman Mike Tod said the airline was still working through options and no decision had been made on what aircraft type would be bought or how many.
"At different times during the past five months senior Air New Zealand managers have visited both the Boeing and Airbus factories as part of the appraisal process," Mr Tod said.
He confirmed that an executive who reports directly to Mr Norris was in Toulouse two weeks ago.
A fleet of nine A330s would be worth about $1.2 billion at list prices, but Air New Zealand would extract a substantial discount from Airbus, reflecting difficult aircraft sale conditions and an incentive to break longstanding ties with Boeing.
Air New Zealand has already ordered 15 Airbus A320 jets to replace aging 767-200s and 737-300s on short-haul international routes.
Seven A320s have been delivered.
The 767-300 fleet had an average age of eight years, but the aircraft were no longer the most suitable for the routes flown, Mr Norris said. Half the fleet would come off operating lease in the next two years, presenting an opportunity to replace them.
Air New Zealand was also expected to unveil details of a $160 million refit of its fleet of eight Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets in June which would see them through to the next decade.
The biggest changes are expected to be the introduction of seat-back video screens in economy class and replacing first class with a business class with lie-flat seats.
<ends>
:ok:
Industry sources have said a decision will be announced in June, about a month earlier than indicated by the airline.
Air New Zealand is believed to be evaluating Airbus and Boeing options still.
It is expected the board will be presented with the favoured aircraft types by the end of May.
Price negotiations with both manufacturers would follow, with a final decision expected about mid-June.
Boeing was offering its 777 range and the smaller 7E7, which does not go into production till 2008.
However, an industry source said indications were that Air New Zealand would settle on the A330 range. These aircraft can fly the Pacific and Southeast Asia routes serviced by the nine 767-300s they would replace.
Top Air New Zealand managers were at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, at the end of last month. It is understood that the visit prompted Airbus executives to pull out of an important transport conference in Sydney at the same time, though Air New Zealand managing director Ralph Norris attended.
No other South Pacific airline flies the Boeing 777. That and the four-year wait for the 7E7 counted against Boeing's chances, the source said.
Air New Zealand spokesman Mike Tod said the airline was still working through options and no decision had been made on what aircraft type would be bought or how many.
"At different times during the past five months senior Air New Zealand managers have visited both the Boeing and Airbus factories as part of the appraisal process," Mr Tod said.
He confirmed that an executive who reports directly to Mr Norris was in Toulouse two weeks ago.
A fleet of nine A330s would be worth about $1.2 billion at list prices, but Air New Zealand would extract a substantial discount from Airbus, reflecting difficult aircraft sale conditions and an incentive to break longstanding ties with Boeing.
Air New Zealand has already ordered 15 Airbus A320 jets to replace aging 767-200s and 737-300s on short-haul international routes.
Seven A320s have been delivered.
The 767-300 fleet had an average age of eight years, but the aircraft were no longer the most suitable for the routes flown, Mr Norris said. Half the fleet would come off operating lease in the next two years, presenting an opportunity to replace them.
Air New Zealand was also expected to unveil details of a $160 million refit of its fleet of eight Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets in June which would see them through to the next decade.
The biggest changes are expected to be the introduction of seat-back video screens in economy class and replacing first class with a business class with lie-flat seats.
<ends>
:ok: