Dow Jones is sceptic about All Nippon Airways (ANA)’s plan to buy the Airbus A380. In a comment piece, the
Boeing-777
news agency says such a deal would be a “huge coup” for Airbus, as its rival Boeing has enjoyed close ties with Japan’s major industrial groups and airlines for decades. ANA seems to signal its “displeasure” with Boeing as it faces delivery delays on its order for 50 B787s. Yet, ANA’s acknowledgement that it is considering buying Airbus’s superjumbo might be no more than a “negotiating ploy” addressed to Boeing, assesses Dow Jones. The news agency says it would be logical for ANA to deploy the A380 on routes to Europe and the US from Japan, though this option would not “sit well with business realities”. Adding a new aircraft type would undermine ANA’s fleet rationalisation plans
at a crucial time –the airline, indeed, has planned to increase the number and frequency of its direct flights and was banking on the B787, which is designed for point-to-point travel. ANA, therefore, could lease planes –for instance Boeing 767-300ERs- until the B787 is delivered, a “far less risky” move than ordering the A380. As part of its rationalisation programme, the airline had also pledged to retire its Airbus A320s to cut maintenance, spare-part and pilot-training costs –an effort that would be cancelled by an A380 acquisition.
Dow Jones (07/07)
