PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Air France-KLM is likely to decide next year between EADS NV unit Airbus' A350 XWB aircraft and Boeing Co.'s 787 aircraft for an order of around 100 aircraft, Philippe Calavia, executive vice-president and CFO told Thomson Financial News.
Calavia said last year at the presentation of the company's half year results that the decision was likely to be made in 2008 and that the airline could choose all of one type or to split the order in two.
A small number of aircraft the airline eventually chooses are likely to be delivered from 2012, with the bulk of the aircraft arriving in Air France-KLM's fleet from 2015, Calavia said.
The new aircraft would replace existing Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-200 the carrier operates, he added.
'We're still in the phase of studying the different propositions - it is taking more time because the A350 programme specifics are not yet set out,' Calavia said, also noting that Boeing has had supply chain hold-ups on the 787.
'We will probably not be able to make a relevant comparison before 2009,' Calavia said.
'We're continuing to work with Boeing and Airbus but I don't think we'll have all the elements to make a decision before 2009,' he added. helen.beresford@thomsonreuters.com hem/ajb COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
© 2008 AFX News
