US Air goes Airbus again - order includes A350 XWBs

FLY4HOURS.BE · Post by **FLY4HOURS.BE** » 05 Oct 2007, 16:56

They secured an order for 92 aircraft including 22 XWB's

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... order.html

Post by **sn26567** » 07 Oct 2007, 11:52

Here is the Airbus press release:

US Airways firms up order for 92 Airbus aircraft; order includes 22 A350 XWBs

5 October 2007

Following an agreement announced in June 2007, US Airways has now signed the contract for the purchase of 92 Airbus aircraft, including: 18 A350-800s, 4 A350-900s, 10 A330-200s, and 60 A320 Family aircraft. The airline is slated to receive its first A350 in 2014 with deliveries running through 2017. Delivery dates for the newly ordered A330s run from 2009 through 2010. The A320 Family order is comprised of 10 A321s, 40 A320s and 10 A319s with extensive conversion rights within the A320 Family. With this new A320 Family order adding to US Airway's existing backlog of 37 orders for Airbus single-aisle aircraft, the A320 Family delivery stream to US Airways extends through 2012.

"Both the A320 Family and A330 have served us very well, and we look forward to capitalizing on the advantages the A350 XWB will add to our fleet," said Doug Parker, Chairman and CEO of US Airways. "The combination of range, comfort and economics all these aircraft feature will offer our passengers the ideal service they have come to expect from US Airways." Both America West and US Airways took delivery of their first A320 Family aircraft in 1998. Since that time, and since the airlines have joined forces under the US Airways brand, the airline has become the largest airline customer for Airbus in terms of aircraft ordered and aircraft operated.

"This order is a clear endorsement of every member of our twin-engine product line," said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. "These aircraft work hard for the airline, and have the right balance of characteristics to please our customer and their customers. With the A350 being a major part of this contract, we're very happy US Airways has decided to expand its fleet types in parallel with the evolution of the Airbus product line.

The A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) is Airbus' response to market demand for a medium-capacity long-range widebody family. Designed with airlines' priorities in mind, the A350 XWB confronts the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations and increasing environmental concerns. Available from 2013, it has an entirely new, uncompromised, 21st Century design with a wider and taller fuselage for extra space and passenger comfort.

TexasGuy · Post by **TexasGuy** » 08 Oct 2007, 01:42

I dont think this is a suprise to most of the posters here

..

Charlie Roy · Post by **Charlie Roy** » 08 Oct 2007, 01:44

Ya, but the weak-dollar-strong-euro makes it very expensive for an American airline to purchase European aircraft

FLY4HOURS.BE · Post by **FLY4HOURS.BE** » 08 Oct 2007, 11:51

If list prices are unchanged, those who loose from the weak dollar are Airbus. All aircraft are sold in dollars.

Most of the aircraft are paid for at the delivery and not at the moment of the order. At the moment of the order, there are just some fees paid to secure and guarranty the order, and the contract signed.

When Airbus puts a new plane to sale, a whole team of dozens of financial advisor discuss the prices for months depending on many factors: market value at the moment of EIS, costs at the moment of production, course of the dollar/euro,...

Boeing is going to have the same problem with the B787 Dreamliner. With the weakening dollar, they have to pay more and more for every single part that comes from overseas.

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 08 Oct 2007, 23:56

Lets just say US got a very good deal and leave it at that.

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 09 Oct 2007, 15:40

cageyjames wrote:Lets just say US got a very good deal and leave it at that.

From industry sources, I understand that US Air got a VERY good deal!

FLY4HOURS.BE · Post by **FLY4HOURS.BE** » 09 Oct 2007, 17:08

I m sure they have... if you buy 92 cars, you will also get a good deal

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 09 Oct 2007, 18:24

Ahhhh ... I understand that US got a much better price than you'd expect for an order that size.

cageyjames · Post by **cageyjames** » 10 Oct 2007, 21:29

We played Boeing and Airbus of each other and got an incredible deal. Boeing wanted US Airways really bad given how many older Boeing aircraft were going to be replaced. Airbus sure as heck didn't want to lose what might be the only widebody order they will get from an American airline.

US had both companies right where they wanted them, under our foot.