Airbus leads the race against Boeing for Malaysia Airlines orders

Airbus is leading the race against Boeing, its main competitor, for a possible order of up to thirty wide-body aircraft from Malaysia Airlines. The airline currently operates Airbus A330-200s, A330-300s and A350s on its long-range routes.

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The dispute between the world’s two largest aircraft manufacturers takes place in other markets as well. Earlier this month, four Chinese airlines placed orders for 292 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. Competition is being replicated in India, another key market with good growth prospects.

Malaysia Airlines is currently considering a renewal of its long-range fleet. In its analysis, it favours more efficient aircraft in terms of fuel consumption and operating costs. It is reported to be evaluating the possibility of acquiring up to thirty Airbus A330neo or up to thirty Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Although no further details are known, the final decision could be announced at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show, which runs from July 18th to 22th, according to Bloomberg.

The order for thirty Boeing 787s could reach 10 billion dollars, depending on the list price of the aircraft. However, discount deals are common on such orders. The Airbus A330neo, on the other hand, tends to be a cheaper option. Its development from the previous models in the family reduced costs. However, the manufacturer no longer publicly announces the prices of its products.

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In a statement, Airbus said it is «always in contact with existing and potential customers and the nature of any discussions whether underway or not remain confidential in any case». On the other hand, Boeing remarked that it does not «comment on discussions with customers».

Airbus’ intention is to quickly bring its production rate to 75 aircraft per month. However, supply chain problems threaten to delay those intentions. The manufacturer could open new production lines at its industrial sites, although pressure on its suppliers could lead to further complications.