Boeing, Airbus gear up to battle for United Continental order
23 Sep 2011
Chicago/Paris: An order from US carrier United Continental Airlines for atleast 100 and possibly 200 aircraft is shaping up as the next battleground for Boeing Co and Airbus to sell narrowbody airplanes. An earlier order for 460 aircraft from American Airlines was split between the two trans-Atlantic rivals with Boeing grabbing orders for 200 upgraded 737s and Airbus picking up the balance 260 for its upgraded A320neos.
At list prices the order for 200 single-aisle planes is potentially worth about $18 billion.
Sources said discussions were still at an early stage, but it was likely that United may place an order to refresh its fleet late this year or early next year.
US airlines are upgrading their narrowbody fleets with newer planes to help offset soaring fuel costs.
United says it has the newest and most fuel-efficient fleet among the network carriers.
Delta Air Lines ordered 100 Boeing Next-Generation 737-900ER airplanes, valued at $8.5 billion, last month.
United Continental, which has a narrowbody fleet of about 550 Boeing and Airbus planes, was formed last year after a merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines.
The carriers still operate separately even as they go through the integration process.
