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Regional carriers head down the airbus route
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Posted on Apr 12 2001
SUVA, Fiji (PINA Nius) — Boeing’s grip on the South Pacific aircraft market has taken a hammering, the latest issue of South Pacific Aviation magazine reports.
The magazine said this is symbolized in a huge Qantas order for Airbus jets and New Caledonia’s Aircalin ordering two types of Airbus aircraft.
South
Pacific Aviation said Qantas ended decades of loyalty to the Boeing brand by announcing its attention to buy 12 giant Airbus A380 jets and 13 Airbus A330-200s and A330-300s. Deliveries are to begin in 2002.
Aircalin’s order for two A330s and an A320 was influenced by generous tax concessions offered by the French Government, South Pacific Aviation said.
The New Caledonian airline will replace its American-built Boeing 737 with the similar-sized European-built A320.
After selling two Airbus 310s to Air Niugini in 1985 and 20 A320s to Australia’s Ansett in 1988, Airbus for years remained a weak presence in the region, South Pacific Aviation said.
Air Pacific chose to buy Boeing 737-700/800 jets in preference to the A320 and Polynesian decided to stick with the United States manufacturer last year with a decision to lease two Boeing 737-800s.
The European manufacturer leased an A340 to Air Tahiti Nui in November 1998 and has had a leased A310 flying with Aircalin since November last year.
The twin-engined A330 typically seats 335 passengers in two classes and has a range of up 12,300 kilometers (7,380 miles).
The Qantas order for the A380 helped push Airbus to deciding to build the 555-seater, South Pacific Aviation said.
Due to enter airline service in 2006, it will have a range of up to 14,800 kilometers (8,880 miles) and will have 15 to 20 percent lower operating costs than the largest aircraft flying now, the Boeing 747.
