Air NZ chosing A330?
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Air NZ chosing A330?
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>
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>
I think you will find they go Airbus, The A320 crews will do a CCQ course on to the A330 and be dual qualified, Big savings to the company $$$$$$ and a good mix of flying for the troops.
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Heard on the Airwaves Last Night
Auck Ctrl: NZ??? Decrease speed to 160 knots, the airbus ahead appears to be slowing to minimum clean
Pilot: No problem, he cant do anything about it, its probably programmed that way!
Pilots want to fly these things why?
Auck Ctrl: NZ??? Decrease speed to 160 knots, the airbus ahead appears to be slowing to minimum clean
Pilot: No problem, he cant do anything about it, its probably programmed that way!
Pilots want to fly these things why?
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Speeds High
Speeds High, ever flown an Airbus? Thought not. The speed is no more programmed than in any Boeing. The pilot has the same control over speed and for whatever reason the Airbus ahead was slowing was probably for operational reasons, not because the computer told him to. 
Pilots fly what they are given, not what they want by the way.
Lame, stickers? Say it aint Bumper stickers!!
Nosey
Pilots fly what they are given, not what they want by the way.
Lame, stickers? Say it aint Bumper stickers!!
Nosey
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Speeds high, I agree about the comment being a good funny. If you re-read your post, it sounds like you believed what the NZ pilot was saying about pre programmed speed control. Then you ask the question about pilots wanting to fly them. Wouldn't you, given the opportunity?
If you think I over reacted, then my apologies, the milk and cookies are in the crew room.
Nosey
If you think I over reacted, then my apologies, the milk and cookies are in the crew room.
Nosey