Meanwhile, AirAsia (AIRA.KL) Chief Executive Tony Fernandes flew into the United Kingdom to finalize an order for 100 A321neo jets to support the airline’s expansion plans, confident of striking a deal at bargain prices as planemakers brace for a slowdown.
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Airbus and Boeing have enjoyed years of strong demand, helped by rising airline travel particularly in Asia and the Middle East and new, more fuel-efficient planes. But it said that reducing production is a prudent step in view of current order trends.
Indian airline Go Air is in talks to buy 72 of Airbus’ A320neo aircraft in a move to expand its network.
The trend is prompting low-priced operators that have already amassed large order backlogs to add even more planes, with India’s Spice Jet Ltd. also weighing an order for as many as 100 737s or A320s, though not certain to reach a decision this week.
China’s Donghai Airlines has announced that it plans to purchase 30 Boeing aircraft worth over $4 billion at list prices, the plane manufacturer said on Monday.
The order involves a mix of 737 MAX and next-generation 737 airplanes.
The bulk of deals at Farnborough and the Paris show with which it alternates come on the first two business days, though more announcements are possible Wednesday, with the acquisition of 20 Max jets by Spain’s Air Europa Lineas Aereas among anticipated purchases that have so far failed to materialize. Shenzhen Airlines is the major shareholder of Kunming Airlines.
Air Lease Corp doubled an order to six 737 MAX 8s worth US$660 million.
AirAsia, already the biggest single-aisle aircraft customer for Airbus, is increasing its bet that economic growth from India, China and Vietnam will spawn millions of new fliers in the world’s most populous continent.
Kunming Airlines now serves more than 40 cities across China by operating a fleet of eight 737-700s and 11 737-800s.
ALC is an aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, with customers worldwide. The trend is prompting low-priced operators that have already amassed large order backlogs to add even more planes, with India’s SpiceJet Ltd. also weighing an order for as many as 100 737s or A320s, though not certain to reach a decision this week.
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The already very efficient 787 has been in commercial service for fewer than five years, but the pressure to add efficiency is powerful-both for Rolls in its battle against GE Aviation’s GEnx-1B, the other engine option on the 787, and for Boeing as the A350 continues to gain traction. TUI Group now has three unfilled orders for 787-9s and 70 orders for the 737-MAX.
