Qatar Airways Could place an order for up to 25 widebodies at the coming Paris Air Show. Qatar is considering the Airbus A330, A340 and Boeing 777. The airline is also expected to formalise its letter of intent for 2 Airbus A380s with 2 options, although speculation is that the options may be converted immediately into firm orders.
Mexicana Is considering the addition of up to 20 Airbuses to its fleet. Most of the planes would likely be leased. The order could include the Airbus A318.
Air Canada, Austrian, Lufthansa & SAS, The 4 Star Alliance members will likely place an order for up to 100 aircraft in the 4th quarter of this year with options on 100 additional aircraft. Some of the aircraft that are being considered include the Airbus A318, Boeing 717, Bombardier CRJ700 & CRJ900 and Embraer 170.
By: binx - 10th June 2003 at 10:27
Mongu,
Yes, Air Canada. One of the key strategies in their effort to emerge from bankruptcy is to follow the lead of US Airways and purchase a large amount (rumoured to be around 85) of 70 seat regional jets. They are also said to be looking at purchasing a number of 115 seat jets. At this point the favourite seems to be the B717 which to me seems a bit ironic as Air Canada just finished retiring their DC-9s not too long ago. Another proposal has also been put forward by ALPA, representing the Air Canada Jazz pilots, that would have the airline ending its subcontracting of Tier 3 services by purchasing up to 32 Beech 1900Ds by 2009. It has been suggested that Air Canada will use the fleet expansion as a bargaining chip in its negotiations with its current aircraft leasors. Of course at this stage, everything is subject to change so what will happen in the end, who knows?
By: mongu - 9th June 2003 at 23:58
Air Canada??!
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June 9, 2003 at 3:21 pm