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AWAS to purchase 100 Airbus planes, 'WSJ' says

Leasing company AWAS (Ireland) Ltd is expected to announce a deal to buy up to 100 Airbus jets worth US$6.9 billion, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported yesterday in its online European edition.

The news came after US aerospace group Boeing said last week it delivered 441 commercial airplanes last year as part of a tight race with Europe's Airbus for the lead in the global market.

The AWAS deal was for 75 single-aisle jetliners, with options for 25 more, which Airbus will book this year, the WSJ said.

The airplanes are valued at US$6.9 billion based on list prices, but big orders normally attract large discounts.

The report said that the deal would lift AWAS a notch higher among second-tier aircraft-leasing companies. These companies, which provide aircraft to airlines around the world, are among the biggest plane buyers in the aviation business.

AWAS has been one of the fastest-growing midsize players. The company, purchased in 2006 by British private-equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd, now owns or manages 320 aircraft.

Last month it announced an order for 31 single-aisle 737 planes from Boeing and purchase rights for 19 more, with a catalogue price of US$2.3 billion.

Airbus has been in a dogfight with Boeing for the lead in both orders and deliveries.

The full order book for both groups last year has not yet been released. But through the end of September, Airbus had received 854 plane orders to 893 for Boeing.

Airbus, which has been mired in financial difficulties, was overtaken in 2006 by Boeing, with its 1,044 orders against 790 for the latter.

Boeing is expected to have some 1,400 orders for last year, but Airbus could top that figure, some estimates show.
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