Company Watch - Airbus.

Jan 8, 2007

GE Aviation said Air Mauritius ordered CF6-80E1 engines to power its two A330-200s on firm order plus one option and one purchase right. The engine order is valued at $60 million. "GE and Air Mauritius have developed a good relationship over the years as the carrier operated CF6-80C2 engines on its Boeing 767 fleet," GE Aviation VP-Sales Roger Seager said. Jan 4, 2007

AirAsia is expected to place another large order for A320s, possibly as early as today. Sources confirmed said that the airline will double its A320 fleet; it operates 15 and has 70 on order. Part of the pending buy will be the exercise of existing options. The LCC also has 35 737-300s in service that all will be replaced by A320s. Jan 5, 2007

Asiana Airlines reportedly will add both Airbus and Boeing aircraft to its fleet, but press reports yesterday differed on whether the acquisitions involve purchased and/or leased planes. The Associated Press said the Korean carrier agreed to purchase two 777-300ERs, two A321-200s, one A320-200 and one A330-300 and that it is "considering ordering two additional planes from the [A320] family this year," according to an Asiana spokesperson. Reuters said the acquisition will comprise three purchases (two 777-300ERs and one A330-300) and five leased A320s/A321s, including the two "additional" planes. Both reports said the aircraft will be delivered this year. Jan 5, 2007

Pegasus Aviation Finance of California ordered two A350 XWBs and six A330-200s in a deal representing the lessor's first Airbus order and the first public commitment to the new A350 since the program was relaunched last month. Jan 5, 2007

Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) said on Monday that it has placed firm orders with Airbus and Boeing for 40 more single-aisle aircraft in a deal worth USD$2.8 billion based on list prices. SALE, which was acquired by Bank of China last month for USD$965 million, said it had placed a new order with Airbus for 20 A320 aircraft and would exercise 20 existing options and purchase rights with Boeing for the next generation 737 series. Jan 8, 2007

The new orders placed by Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) are the first since the company was bought by Bank of China, and underscore the commitment by the bank to accelerate the expansion of the Singapore-based firm, the statement said. Robert Martin, chief executive officer of SALE, said the firm has already placed almost all the aircraft from its existing orders for delivery through to the end of 2009. SALE has a current portfolio of 75 aircraft and has an additional 67 aircraft on firm order. Jan 8, 2007

Virgin America, which plans to operate a fleet of 34 A320 family aircraft and currently has two A319s and seven A320s in storage, according to CASE, said it will use the DOT decision as a "roadmap to address the issues raised and to demonstrate to the DOT that Virgin America will meet all ownership and control requirements." It said it will respond formally to the decision by a Jan. 10 deadline. Jan 3, 2007 Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

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Jan 1, 2007