No decision yet on fleet purchase
The Qantas board is belived to have delayed a decision on its largest ever fleet purchase after rival aircraft manufacturers put in last minute revisions to their respective offers.
Some Qantas insiders believe that Boeing will get the lion’s share of the order, but concede it is also possible the airline will opt for planes from both manufacturers, much as it did with its $18 billion order in 2000.
The battle by the plane manufacturers to secure Qantas business has been described as the closest fought in the airline’s history.
Qantas has already ordered 12 A380 superjumbo aircraft, with options for 10 more, to service routes between Australia and the United States and Britain. It also has been taking delivery of Boeing 737-800s to increase this fleet to 33 by the end of 2005.
Details of the decisions are eagerly awaited by analysts keen to get a clearer view of the carrier’s strategy.
“It’s really laying out the future for Qantas for the next 10 years,” said Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation senior analyst Ian Thomas. “So, from that point of view, yes, it is really significant for them.”
“It essentially sets not only the fleet structure, but also the airline structure for the future.”
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