Airbus in talks over orders with S Korean airline

Airbus in talks over orders with S Korean airline

Airbus Industrie last night said it was in talks with South Korea's Asiana Airlines over delaying aircraft deliveries, but it denied recent reports that Asiana intended to cancel orders for A330 wide-bodied planes, which cost around $120m each. Airbus said an order for six A330 planes "remained firm".

The European aircraft consortium, which includes British Aerospace, also confirmed that it would deliver two A321 narrow-bodied planes to Asiana in February, but said it was trying to "negotiate a mutually acceptable solution" with Asiana over the delivery of another 16 A321 narrow-bodied planes, which cost around $55m each. Asiana also has commitments, subject to government approval, for 12 more A330s.