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August 29, 2012

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Airbus seals Philippine Airlines deal

AIRBUS won a US$7 billion order to help more than triple Philippine Airlines Inc's fleet, beating Boeing Co to a deal despite the Philippines' close military ties with the United States.

The flag carrier, which plans to buy up to 100 new jets in total within the next five to seven years as it fights to regain dominance of the local market, said it was still in talks with both Airbus and Boeing for its next tranche of planes.

For this stage of fleet expansion, the airline has ordered 10 long-haul A330-300s and 44 jets from the A321 family, with delivery starting in 2013, Asia's oldest airline said in a statement. The carrier is ready to issue more shares to fund its purchases.

"The good Boeing planes we are looking at are the 777-300 ER and the upcoming 777-X. We're also interested in the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner," President Ramon Ang told reporters on the sidelines of the deal signing event in Manila yesterday.

"We have the option on whichever type of aircraft to go," he said.

Boeing and Airbus are already locked in a global contest for market share, in some cases more than halving prices to bolster orders of the newly revamped models of best-selling narrowbody jets, industry sources and analysts say.

The US pledged in April to triple military aid to Manila in 2012 while remaining broadly cautious on defense ties.

Philippines President Benigno Aquino visited the US in June, highlighting the archipelago's growing importance in US thinking and temporarily raising US hopes of a commercial aviation deal benefiting export jobs.

Analysts say Airbus - originally a consortium between France, Germany, Britain and Spain - also benefits from diplomatic support from European nations for m ajor contracts.

Airbus hopes to win orders to sell up to 100 A320 planes to China when German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits the country this week, sources said.


 

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