European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is "close to concluding a contract to sell A220 passenger aircraft to Polish carrier LOT", winning the Tender process from the Brazilian Embraer in the competition.
However, the results of the tender process for the purchase of aircraft for LOT Polish Airlines will be announced on Monday, as per the Dariusz Klimczak, Polish Minister of Infrastructure, on TVN24 in the program "#BezKitu".
The Paris Air Show begins Monday at Le Bourget Airport . It is one of the largest aviation events in the world, with representatives from not only the aviation industry, but also the space and defense industries. This year, the event will last until June 22.
" I'm going to France with the president of LOT. Every year, the International Air Show is held there, during which new contracts for the purchase of aircraft are traditionally announced."
"And we will announce on Monday afternoon, together with the president of LOT, the results of the tender procedure for the purchase of the fleet for LOT, long awaited," Klimczak informed on Friday on TVN24.
It has been finalized, there are two aircraft models in the game for 84 machines for the Polish carrier: Embraer 195-E2 and Airbus A220.
Asked if he could reveal which aircraft had been selected, he replied that he could not.
" The information will certainly be good, because we have been waiting for the expansion of our fleet for many years. Air traffic is growing. It will be over 80 aircraft ultimately, " Klimczak said.
Currently, LOT flies aging Brazilian Embraers of the following types: E195, E175, E190, E170 and recently three E195-E2 were added. But it also periodically operated leased Airbus planes.
As per sources, unless there is an unexpected turn of events, the contract for around 40 regional Airbus jets could be finalized as early as Monday, at the opening of the Paris Air Show.
Airbus has submitted an offer to supply A220 aircraft in versions 100 and 300. According to Airbus marketing push, the A220 is the newest platform currently in use in the world.
A220 models are manufactured by Airbus Canada. The aircraft is assembled there from parts manufactured all over the world, of which about 40 percent come from Europe. Some elements of the aircraft are made in Poland.
On an operational point of view, the differences between Embraer and Airbus aircraft are not that significant, and LOT must be guided by economic calculation. The competition was based largely on the most attractive cost of one aircraft.
The LOT representative explains that when it comes to the fleet, the carrier will only take into account the use of aircraft from the selected supplier in the strategy update.
Arjan Meijer, CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, said:
The possibilities offered by our aircraft and our offer are better than those of the competition and this is supported by specific numbers that LOT knows. It is in the interest of every airline to have the most efficient aircraft that are adapted to the business model.
Johan Pelissier, Airbus President for Europe, said:
We believe that the A220 perfectly fits LOT's ambition to be better, bigger, more socially responsible. The A220 is a new generation aircraft that offers more seats and can generate over USD 2 billion in additional profit within 15 years.
The main shareholder of PLL LOT is the State Treasury, which has 69.3 percent of shares; the second shareholder (30.7 percent) is the Polish Aviation Group, owned 100 percent by the State Treasury.
LOT Polish Airlines is the 11th oldest airline in the world, operating since 1929. LOT offers direct long-haul flights to airports in the United States, Canada, India, Japan and South Korea.
Display Picture Courtesy: Gat
Some Airbus A220 news from the past....
