Aviation | GlobalPost

With purchase of 25 new Airbus A350s, troubled Air France-KLM invests in long-haul

The Canadian PressJune 19, 2013 07:31

LE BOURGET, France - Air France-KLM ordered 25 Airbus A350 jets on Wednesday, saying the wide-body plane that flew for the first time last week will be central to its plan to expand long-haul flights after years of struggling against discount carriers in Europe. Airbus also announced that SriLankan Airlines, the country's national carrier, would buy four A350s and six slightly smaller A330 jets. That deal is worth around $2.8 billion at list prices.

EADS says window closed for new BAE merger attempt

Thomson ReutersJune 19, 2013 11:33

PARIS (Reuters) - European aerospace group EADS <EAD.PA> said on Wednesday the window for a merger with BAE Systems <BAES.L> was "closed". "Considerations about a deal with BAE are water under the bridge; we have said this time and again, the window is closed," EADS chief spokesman Rainer Ohler said. The two companies abandoned plans to forge the world's largest defense company in October amid German opposition.

New Airbus plane takes off with big orders at Paris Air Show

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 11:31

The Airbus next-generation A350 plane took off commercially at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday, winning multi-billion-dollar deals and the European manufacturer said that more deals were in the air. The news comes just days after the new plane took to the skies in its first ever test flight on Friday, stealing the limelight before the start of the air show -- a key event where Airbus and Boeing compete fiercely for plane orders.

Boeing says 737 MAX to enter service in Q3 2017

Thomson ReutersJune 19, 2013 09:01

PARIS (Reuters) - Boeing's <BA.N> upgraded and re-engined version of its 737 aircraft will come into service in the third quarter of 2017, around six months earlier than scheduled, a company executive said at the Paris Airshow. This helps the 737 MAX close the gap with its main rival - the upgraded Airbus <EAD.PA> 320neo due to enter service in October 2015 - in a highly competitive market segment making up almost 60 percent of all passenger aircraft in service.

Airbus wins order from SriLankan Airlines

Thomson ReutersJune 19, 2013 08:05

PARIS (Reuters) - SriLankan Airlines announced orders for six Airbus <EAD.PA> A330-300 aircraft and commitments to buy four A350-900s in a deal worth $2.6 billion at list prices. Airbus sales chief John Leahy said at the Paris Airshow on Wednesday that the A350 deal would likely be signed by the end of the month. SriLankan, which operates an all-Airbus fleet, said it also plans to lease three A350s, adding that a lessor had not yet been chosen.

JAL starts compensation talks with Boeing over 787

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 08:02

Japan Airlines (JAL) has started talks with US aviation giant Boeing over losses stemming from the grounding of its troubled 787 Dreamliner, a company spokesman said Wednesday. The Japanese carrier was forced to cancel hundreds of flights since mid-January, when its entire 787 fleet was grounded due to battery-related problems. "Japan Airlines has been discussing with Boeing for compensation regarding the 787 grounding," a spokesman said in a statement.

SriLankan orders 10 Airbus long-haul planes in $2.8 bn deal

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 08:01

Airbus said on Wednesday that SriLankan Airlines had agreed to buy six long-haul A330 aircraft and four next-generation A350 planes in a deal worth $2.8 billion (2.1 billion euros) at list prices. "We are grateful of this renewed confidence SriLankan Airlines is placing with us," John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement at the Paris Air Show. san-mbx/hd

SriLankan orders 10 Airbus long-haul planes in $2.6 bn deal

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 08:01

Airbus said on Wednesday that SriLankan Airlines had agreed to buy six long-haul A330 aircraft and four next-generation A350 planes in a deal worth $2.6 billion (1.9 billion euros) at list prices. "We are grateful of this renewed confidence SriLankan Airlines is placing with us," John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, said in a statement at the Paris Air Show. san-mbx/hd

Airbus says Air France confirms A350 order, more to come

Agence France-PresseJune 19, 2013 08:01

Airbus's next-generation A350 plane took centre stage at the Paris Air Show Wednesday as the European firm announced a big Air France-KLM deal for the aircraft and promised more orders to come. The news comes just days after the new plane took to the skies in its first ever test flight on Friday, stealing the limelight before the start of the air show -- a key event where Airbus and Boeing compete fiercely for plane orders.

Ryanair CEO says working on Boeing 737 MAX order

Thomson ReutersJune 19, 2013 07:33

By Alwyn Scott PARIS (Reuters) - The head of low-cost carrier Ryanair <RYA.I> said on Wednesday that the airline could order 200 or more Boeing <BA.N> 737 MAX aircraft by the end of the year, though the timing was not certain. Michael O'Leary said at the Paris Airshow that if the order was not at least 200 planes, "it wouldn't be worth doing." The purchases would be "all growth" and not replacements for aircraft currently in Ryanair's all-Boeing fleet.