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Airbus, Boeing get 3 weeks to bid for A-I order

Amrita Dhar in New Delhi

Airbus and Boeing have been given a three-week deadline for submitting their financial bids for supplying 17 aircraft to Air-India. According to A-I sources, the carrier would call for the bids this week and the two global aircraft manufacturers would be required to present their bids by January 6.

Sources said Air-India would give its techno-economic valuation of the fleet acquisition proposal to the civil aviation ministry by January 15.

The airline has already heard presentations by Rolls-Royce, GE and Pratt & Whitney, which manufacture engines for B-777 200.

Though the submission of financial bids and the technical and economic evaluation generally takes two to three months, the airline is confident that the process can be completed within a month.

Airline officials said since only two aircraft types were under consideration, the process could be wrapped up in one month.

Aviation industry sources, however, said submitting the financial specifications within 2-3 weeks would not be easy.

A-I officials, on the other hand, maintained that Airbus and Boeing would be able to meet the deadline.

The A-I board had in November end approved the acquisition of 17 long-haul 250 seater aircraft and had shortlisted the Airbus A-340-300 and Boeing 777-200 extended range.

A-I's urgency to expand its fleet comes in the backdrop of its acquisition plan being clubbed with that of Indian Airlines' plan to buy 43 aircraft while being referred to the cabinet committee on security.

Moreover, the carrier requires to induct the planes into its fleet at the earliest as it plans to start long haul flights to US west coast and destinations in Europe by 2003-04.

A-I has for the time being postponed any decision on the acquisition of 150 seater planes. Airline sources said, a decision would be taken after the route rationalisation between IA and A-I has been worked out.

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