TEHRAN, April 10 - Malaysia Airlines has launched a fresh tender process for 20-30 widebody jets that could supersede a deal with Boeing Co (BA.N) agreed during a high-profile U.S. visit by the country’s prime minister last year, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Malaysia Airlines has launched a fresh tender process for 20-30 widebody jets that could supersede a deal with Boeing Co (BA.N) agreed during a high-profile U.S. visit by the country’s prime minister last year, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
Its non-binding memorandum of understanding with Boeing to buy eight long-range 787 jets, valued at $2.25 billion at list prices, had come as a surprise given that the national carrier already had an all-Airbus SE (AIR.PA) widebody fleet.
While the Boeing 787 is included in the airline’s latest request for information, it has also listed the Airbus A330neo and A350 for consideration, the source with knowledge of the new widebody tender process told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The carrier already has A330s and A350s in its fleet.
An Airbus spokesman declined to comment.
A Malaysia Airlines spokeswoman said it was “premature” to comment on whether it planned to firm up the Boeing deal.
“As an airline, we constantly engage with our partners to review scenarios and options with respect to our network and fleet as a matter of course,” she said. “Malaysia Airlines will update once something material develops.”
Boeing Senior Vice President Asia-Pacific and India Sales Dinesh Keskar last month told media it was up to the government and the airline to take the lead on firming up the 787 deal.
A Boeing spokeswoman declined to comment further.
The provisional Boeing deal was announced during Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s U.S. visit in September.
Source:Reuters
Your Comment