Long awaited news…
BA launches long-haul tender
Graham Dunn, London (17Oct06, 08:54 GMT, 358 words)British Airways (BA) aims to place its order for new long-haul aircraft next year after today confirming it has issued tender documents to aircraft and engine manufacturers.
The Oneworld carrier currently operates an all-Boeing long-haul fleet of 114 aircraft, comprising 57 Boeing 747-400s, 43 Boeing 777 and 14 Boeing 767-300s. Under its fleet renewal plans 20 Boeing 747s and 14 Boeing 767s would be the first aircraft phased out.
BA says it has sent a request for proposals (RFPs) to Airbus and Boeing and is considering the European manufacturer’s A330, A350 and A380 aircraft, and Boeing’s 787, 777 and 747-8 aircraft. It has also sent RFPs to engine manufacturers Engine Alliance, General Electric and Rolls-Royce, together with other key component suppliers.
The carrier has consistently said it does not intend to take any new long-haul aircraft ahead of its move to London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 in 2008, but has conceded it is close to exhausting efforts to better utilise its existing fleet resource.
BA CEO Willie Walsh today says: “For the past four years we have grown capacity by using our aircraft more efficiently. In order to continue to grow our long-haul business we now need additional aircraft long-haul aircraft.
“With a combination of firm orders and options, we are planning for both growth and fleet replacement into the next decade. Environmental performance will be one of the key criteria in our choice ensuring greater fuel efficiency, reduced noise and emissions.”
Walsh earlier this year confirmed BA had secured delivery slots on ten Boeing 777s from the end of 2008, though stressing the aircraft had not been ordered.
A spokeswoman for the carrier says delivery timings depend on which aircraft it selects, but the earliest entry into service of new long-haul aircraft would be in late 2008.
Walsh also notes the launch of the tender highlights the need for it to address its large pensions deficit. “It is a major blocker to growth and investment in our business, but I am confident we will resolve it,” he says. The carrier is in ongoing talks with unions and the pension scheme’s trustees over its proposals to tackle the deficit.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
By: bring_it_on - 17th October 2006 at 18:15
The way i see it , for the 7673’s replacement they are looking at 3 aircrafts in the A330,787 and A350 , then come the 772’s for which they are looking at the 787 again and the A350 , finally you have the 747-4’s for which they are looking at the 777-3ER
s , 747-8’s and A380’s !!
Personally i believe that if they decide to up capacity from the 767’s then a 787-8 would represent a 15% increase in capacity and a 787-9 would represent a much much greater increase and so would the A350-8 ( although the 8XWB seats about 10 less) . I would go for the 787-8 unless they want to seriously up the capacity in which case the 787-9 still looks better simply because it available early (2010 slots still available) and is narrower and weighs less . However the tricky part comes in next , If they look to replace the 767 and the 777 with ONE SINGLE platform they can do so with both the 787 using 787-8’s and 787-10’s ( boeing has allready said that they will launch it and it would EIS by 2012) or A350-8 and A350-9 !! Then comes the 747-4 in which case they would not replace all of their 747’s with either the 380 or 748 therefore they would most likely either go for a mixed bag of 747-8 and A380 or a mixed bag of A380 and 7773ER or 7773ER and 747-8 . These are the purmutations that they can use however the A350 is anything but certain with no launch yet and allready media reports that it might see further 2 year delays !! Most speculate that boeing is at an advantage with this BA order for long haul ( Airbus took short haul) and if that is the case i think the order book would look something like this –
* 787-8 replaces 767
* 747-4’s are replaced by a mix of 747-8’s and 777300ER’s which are also used in conjugation to up capacity to the 200’s !!
If there is a mixed order then expect some A380’s and 7773ER’s for the 747 fleet replacement and the 787 to get through on account of being more mature and offering product early and at lower risk .
However airbus will compete very hard and this could well be a All airbus sweep , although many media reports dont say this I am hedging that airbus will sweep it under boeing’s feet
By: Jon Taylor - 17th October 2006 at 16:44
Looks like the 767-300’s are going then, so a 777-200 will be most likely on the MAN-JFK route, unless they go crazy and give us a 747-400! 😛
Jon
By: bring_it_on - 17th October 2006 at 13:53
If they go for one manuf. only then I expect boeing to take with a mix of 787 , 7773ER and 747-8 , if they choose to go with 2 manuf. then they would definately choose the A380 !! However it is very ironic that Randy baesler ( boeing VP for sales and marketing) came out today publically how they got the range increment through Design refinement which ON SOME AIRLINE”S request was translated to greater PAX – and on the same day BA announce a RFP !!!;)
By: rdc1000 - 17th October 2006 at 12:17
This is very interesting news, and even more interesting will be their decision of Aircraft manufacturer. Very good news indeed for all parties involved.
I think the engine selection will be just as much of an issue. BA are a long time RR operator, if they go with Boeing then they’re pretty much going to be forced into GE engines. If they go Airbus then they can have RR engines on all the likely types.
They only really went for GE engines on the original 777 order because GE was buying their engine maintenance unit as part of the deal, they quickly reverted back to RR for subsequent orders.
By: LeeMan8 - 17th October 2006 at 12:14
This is very interesting news, and even more interesting will be their decision of Aircraft manufacturer. Very good news indeed for all parties involved.
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October 17, 2006 at 9:32 am