BA’s Walsh critical of airline funding accord
Europe is financing the expansion of Middle East airlines at the expense of its own carriers, according to Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive, the Financial Times reported.
Walsh, speaking at an aviation conference in Brussels, was critical of an informal agreement that prohibits Europe and the UK from giving local airlines export credit guarantees for the purchase of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the newspaper said.
That accord means carriers such as BA, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air France-KLM Group are denied access to financing available to Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, which are “a very significant threat,†the FT quoted Walsh as saying.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has firmed up a previously announced commitment for 30 all-new A350 XWB long-range aircraft.
Cathay CEO Tony Tyler said, “The A350 fits perfectly into our operation. Its passenger capacity, flight range and operating economics are just right to become the backbone of our mid-sized long haul wide-bodied fleet.”
Cathay will operate the A350 XWB across its route network, principally on non-stop services to Europe.
Ian Jarrett
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