All the whispers from Chicago are that Airbus is looking good for the lion's share of United's big aircraft order. Scott Hamilton at Leeham wrote this yesterday, and although Scott does some work for us here at Flight, I'm hearing similar things completely independently.My information is that UAL executives are spending a great deal of time in Toulouse and, oddly, but persuasively if true, the November board meeting is scheduled to be held in Paris.
Sounds too good a rumour to be true, and yet, and yet, when USAirways defected to Airbus for long-haul a few years back the news very nearly leaked because CEO Stephen Wolf was spotted in Paris 24 hours before the announcement.
I also hear what Scott hears, that United is particularly twitched about the 787 situation and that the A350 is Airbus' surest bet in the deal.
on October 22, 2009 11:14 PM | Reply
This ploy by UAL for renewing its fleet is borderline ridiculous. How pray tell is that fat order going to be financed?!
on October 23, 2009 12:16 AM | Reply
Interesting. I wonder what the post-order UAL fleet will look like. If they were so inclined they could reduce to only two types - A320 and A350, but that would require more than 150 aircraft.
Is the number still 150? Or is it more or less?