There are mixed messages coming from various sectors of the market as to whether an all-new or re-engined single-aisle is the better option for the industry.
According to a survey by UBS Securities, 70% of airlines questioned want a new single-aisle aircraft and not a re-engined product. Only 46% would switch their current orders for an re-engined aircraft, the survey reports.
However aviation analysts Collateral Verifications believe that Airbus's proposed A320 "new engine option" (NEO) upgrade is the better solution for its single-aisle product line. "Based on the latest details on the re-engined product, we do believe that it is in Airbus's best interest to do so [NEO], as the R&D costs can be considered somewhat minimal," says Collateral Verifications' vice-president Gueric Dechavanne.
"This new product should allow Airbus to not only prevent Bombardier from gaining too much market share with the CSeries, but also to push Boeing into potentially showing their cards early on a totally new single-aisle aircraft."
Boeing, on the other hand, according to Dechavanne, "is a bit more restricted with the re-engined option" and still seems "to be on the fence as to whether to go the re-engined route or the new aircraft route".
Source: Flight International
