Speaking at the Istat conference in Munich Steven Udvar-Hazy, CEO of Air Lease Corp threw a spanner in the works with the statement that “upgraded versions of Airbus and Boeing jets would offer only limited benefits and create higher costs for airlines”.
Udvar Hazy derided the whole re-engineing programme because he said it would potentially drive up costs for airlines because of a lack of commonality with their existing single-aisle fleets. The new planes would also be heavier and more expensive.
“When I look at all issues and complexities, it’s hard to see a meaningful benefit to the industry other than in terms of the environment and noise emissions,” he says. “There I see some PR benefit to the outside world, but in terms of bottom-line benefit to owners of the aircraft, to operators of aircraft, it’s a very slim margin.”
Airbus will decide by the end of 2010 if it will proceed with the reengined A320 but John Leahy said at the same conference that “almost all airlines are requesting” the new engine option.