Walsh to meet Airbus next week over fleet order
26.07.07
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, is to meet with Airbus executives this week to hammer out a £5bn fleet upgrade, The Business magazine reports. BA is looking to replace 34 Boeing planes: 20 747s and 14 mid-sized 767s. The new planes will be worth a total of around £5bn at list prices.
The airline has a long history of flying Boeing planes and Mr. Walsh told The Business he had been impressed with the US giant's new 787 Dreamliner on a recent trip to Seattle. But the former pilot is also in talks with Airbus, and will be viewing the European company's A380 super jumbo and smaller A350XWB as part of a series of meetings in Toulouse this week.
A final decision on who will get the order - Airbus or Boeing - will be made in September, however, BA's new base at Heathrow, which it will have the sole use of, has been built to take the giant A380. Airbus is widely tipped to get the bulk of the order.
Mr Walsh told the magazine that green issues - rather than cost - were 'at the top' of his priorities. He said: 'We tend to talk a lot about emissions because the easiest thing to focus on is CO2. We also look at issues relating to local air quality such as oxides of nitrogen and noise. All of these factors will play a large role in the future selection of aircraft.'
BA is also in discussions with engine manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce and America's General Electric (GE), about providing parts for the new planes. Mr. Walsh said: 'Boeing and Airbus have done a lot but Rolls-Royce and GE have been focusing on improving fuel efficiency. [It's] definitely a step above what's around today.'
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