News in brief from Airbus, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa, SIA and Virgin Atlantic
Airbus reports steep drop in orders
Airbus saw a steep fall in the number of orders taken at this year's Paris Air Show as airlines cut back on fleet expansion.
The aircraft manufacturer received orders for 58 aircraft amounting to $6.4bn, reports said.
A further $6.5bn of "preliminary" orders, yet to be confirmed, were also received.
Airbus took 247 firm orders at last year's Farnborough Air Show. Boeing took a further 197.
Despite industry-wide cuts, Qatar Airways placed an order for $2bn worth of single-aisle aircraft while AirAsia X ordered ten A350-900s.
www.airbus.com
Austrian offers to cut fleet in takeover
Austrian Airlines' owner has offered to cut back its fleet in a bid to win EC approval of its takeover by Lufthansa.
Peter Michaelis, head of OIAG, holding company, told an Austrian magazine the offer was made to win approval of €500m in state aid that is part of the deal.
Mr Michaelis also confirmed that Lufthansa had offered to cut flights to satisfy EC anti-trust regulators.
It is unclear how many aircraft and routes will be cut if the airlines' offers are accepted.
www.aua.com www.lufthansa.com
SIA chief takes 20% pay cut
Singapore Airlines' ceo Chew Choon Seng has agreed to a 20% pay cut in an effort to curtail airline costs.
SIA's management will also see cuts in salary of between 10-20% from July, reports said. The airline's directors have volunteered for a 20% cut in fees.
More than 2,300 SIA pilots have agreed to one day of unpaid leave a month, SIA said in a statement.
SIA and many of the large network carriers have cut capacity as a result of falling demand, especially in business travel.
www.singaporeair.com
VA confident as it orders more aircraft
Virgin Atlantic has announced a $2.1bn order for ten new A330-300 aircraft, to be delivered in 2011 and 2012.
VA said the new aircraft, with room for up to 270 passengers, would drive growth on its business and leisure routes out of London.
The A330-300s will integrate with VA's existing 38-strong fleet. VA also expects to take delivery of 15 Boeing 787 ‘Dreamliners' from 2013.
Financing for all ten aircraft has been secured with aviation leasing company AerCap. Four of the aircraft will be on direct operating leases with AerCap.
www.virginatlantic.com