CAL's evaluation of jet purchase now in government hands

China Airlines Co (華航) has handed its evaluation of a purchase order of between 12 to 16 jet aircraft to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

China Airlines spokesman Roger Han (韓梁中) said the company handed over its report detailing the offers from Airbus SAS and Boeing Co last Friday.

The report contained no final conclusions on the company's choice, Han said. Chang Kuo-cheng (張國政), director general of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, has already read the report, he said.

Once the CAA completes its appraisal, they will meet with China Airlines and then brief Minister of Transportation and Communications Ling Ling-san (林陵三), local Chinese-language media reports said.

The minister has requested that the government be kept abreast of the sale to ensure everything had been conducted in a fair and professional manner, but that it would respect the independent and final decision of China Airlines.

He denied reports that Boeing had offered larger discounts to match the Airbus offer.

Airbus reportedly offered a 35 percent discount on the deal.