Posted on 05/24/2007 7:32:24 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
PARIS Air France announced a $7 billion aircraft order on Thursday, split between Airbus and Boeing (BA).
The deals include an order for two more A380 superjumbos, the world's largest airliner whose two-year production delays have left manufacturer Airbus facing penalties to airlines.
Air France said it had also placed orders for 30 A320-family single-aisle aircraft from Airbus and 18 wide-body 777 long-haul aircraft from Boeing.
The Boeing 777 order is designed to help phase out Boeing 747s in the Air France network and includes 5 cargo aircraft.
Air France merged with Dutch national airline KLM in 2004 but the two operate separate fleets and networks.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Ouch!
That’s gotta hurt Airbus when even the state owned carrier picks the competitor!
Sarko has business excited about the future, and reality.
Doesn't Airbus have a special going, something like 10 A320s free, with every purchase of a A380?
(Okay, maybe not free, but heavily discounted?)
Don’t laugh. It worked for Apollo 13.
The 777’s Air France has have a rather high French content due to the engines.
If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
Ha! Reminds me of the time when my Boeing employee neighbors had three rubber bands in a baggie, and called them McDonald-Douglas engine repair kits!
Hedging their bets
They're buying the best in each market segement except for the A380. If you don't need to fly US trancontinental ranges or in high and hot conditions in narrow bodies, the A320 is more comfortable than the 737.
I “repaired” a commercial airliner using duct tape once...and I’m not a mechanic!
[no, not kidding, and yes, maintenance told me to]
I guess they had to order Airbus since they are French and Boeing so they would actually have something to fly.
Eventually, the Airbus orders will disappear and they will transform into Boeing.
It must irk Airbus to no end that instead of buying the locally-made A340-500/600 models, Air France will soon have the largest fleet of 777’s in the world.
A friend of mine is a pilot on the 777. He lives in Lancaster, PA. He says the drive to go to JFK scares the hell out of him. Once in the air, he feels safe.
Any drive through New York City scares the hell out of almost anyone, for lots of obvious reasons!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.