Garuda orders six Airbus planes for US$1.15 billion

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 07/22/2010 11:12 AM

State-owned airline PT Garuda Indonesia placed an order with Airbus SAS at the Farnborough Air Show for six A330-200 wide-body jets in a deal valued at US$1.15 billion, the airline said in a statement Wednesday.

The planes are expected to arrive in Indonesia in the fourth quarter of 2012 and will supplement four A330-200 and six A330-300 Airbus planes currently used by Garuda.

The six aircraft will be equipped with the Trent 700 engine from Rolls-Royce and serve the airline’s routes in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Europe, said Garuda.

“Since we started operating the plane last year, the A330-200 has proven an excellent performer, particularly in terms of economic and operational efficiency,” said Garuda president and CEO Emirsyah Satar.

He added that the A330-200 would be the right choice for the airline’s medium-range routes.

Tom Enders, president and CEO of Airbus, said the company was pleased to revive a long-term relationship with Garuda. He added the A330 excelled in efficiency compared to other airlines in its class.

On Wednesday, the third day of the airshow, Airbus also booked an $1.49 billion order for seven A330-300 wide-body jets from Thai Airways International Pcl, Thailand’s biggest airline.

Boeing said it booked an order Wednesday for two 777 wide-body aircraft from Qatar Airways Ltd and for two 777-200LR wide-body aircraft from Air Australia.

Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Airbus and Boeing were almost tied for new orders and had racked up collective orders for 243 aircraft valued at more than $23 billion.

Boeing won 121 orders worth $11.6 billion as of Tuesday while Airbus has sales agreements for 122 jets valued at $11.7 billion, excluding 50 A320s ordered by Chile’s LAN Airlines and subject to confirmation.

Orders at this year’s event are more than three times the 78 announced at last year’s Paris Air- show, with which the Farnborough event alternates. The tally trails the 373 firm orders announced by Airbus and Boeing in 2008.