Syrian Air möchte drei A330 für ihre alten betagten Jumbos und einige A319/A320 beschafffen. Wieder zwei SP weniger.
May 19, 2005
State-owned Syrian Arab Airlines is considering an Airbus offer of seven aircraft, the country's transportation minister said on Thursday.
"There are negotiations on technical issues after which financial issues can be discussed... the (Airbus) offer is the sole offer in this tender," Makram Obeid said.
"Under the law (in Syria) there should be more than one offer but we have issued the tender twice already," he said, noting that a deal was likely to be announced in July with Airbus.
Syria, accused by Washington of backing anti-Israel militant groups, is under unilateral US trade sanctions that prevent US aircraft makers from selling high-technology equipment to the country.
Syrian Arab Airlines, also known as Syrian Air, first issued the tender in October for four medium body and three wide body aircraft with respective capacities of 200 and 300 passengers.
Obeid did not comment on the cost but industry sources have said the deal is expected to be worth around USD$500 million to be financed through bank loans.
The airline has said its mostly aging 14 aircraft fleet has become expensive to operate. Its last purchase was six Airbus A300 planes in a USD$250 million deal in 1999.
Syrian Air flies to 43 destinations outside Syria, and is banned from traveling to US destination under the sanctions set by President George W Bush last May.
(Reuters)