Airliners.net

Latest word out of Royal Jordanian is that they are looking to expand their regional network by purchasing an additional 10 aircraft. They are currently in the process of selecting 10 A321 or 10 B737-800.

Personally I think it would be interesting to see Royal Jordanian purchase the B737s. They would definitely look awesome in the RJ colours. However, there is always the issue of fleet commonality which might push them back to Airbus for this purchase. Anyone else have any thoughts?

MEA321

By the way, I dont intend to turn this into a A vs. B war!

It's time they'd get some Boeings, for routes to Europe they could use the 737-800, just like Turkish and EL AL. And the other way around KLM.

regards, Plane Holland

I think that A 321s will be ordered to replace A 310s that fly on European routes and a few A 332s too might be ordered to replace A 310s for long haul flights to India-Far East etc.

I bet they would go for a332 and a321 since the middle east seems to be on a airbus run nowadays. (ie. Ettihad, Al-Arabiyya, EK, Gulf Air, KU, Syrian Air, Cyprus Airways, MEA, Egyptair, RAM (a321's), Air Afriquiyya, Tunis Air, Onur Air, etc.

Please no A vs. B wars again.....just my two canadian cents worth

I agree with you YYZ4RADD,

Arab air carriers have grown quite fond of Airbus aircraft. The only Boeing aircraft that has become somewhat popular in the Middle East is the B777. Saudia, Emirates, and Egypt Air come to mind as they all operate the 777. As for Royal Jordanian, it does seem more likely that they will order the A321, but might we get a surprise?

Does anyone suppose that the high concentration of Airbus aircraft in the Middle East has anything to do with politics, or just good marketing on behalf of Airbus Industrie?

Does anyone suppose that the high concentration of Airbus aircraft in the Middle East has anything to do with politics, or just good marketing on behalf of Airbus Industrie?

Both.

Regards

Well see if the B 7E7 was launched at the same time as the A 330-200 then you wouldnt see too many A 332s in the ME today.

The A 332 is the perfect aircraft for ME carriers as it has a long range + efficient + modern plus can carry a load from 200-270 pax which is ideal for these airlines on their main routes.

When these ME carriers were updating their fleet between 1994-98...the B 767 was getting old-stale as it was a 16 year old product plus a bit too small for some airlines (except GF) and for these new airlines to become successful they needed brand new aircraft to enhance their image (EK-Cyprus-ME), Brazil">MEA-GF-QR).

The B 777 is too big for most ME carriers thats why its not been successful except for DXB and Saudia...even MS are getting rid of their B 772s by putting in A 346s.

But Im pretty confident if the B 7E7 was launched at the same time as the A 332 and with the current 20%+ savings economic efficiency...you would see a lot of them in the ME today!!!

I hear SAA is looking to unload some of their 738s in favour of 320s too.

G

SAA according to the FEB 04 AIRWAYS magazine will retain all its B 738s until their individual leases expire in around 2008...after that they will get rid of them and order more A 320s replacing them.

But yes it is going ALL AIRBUS and I wont be surprised in 4 years if it decides on buying A 380s to fly the LHR route which is going to be soon the sole route for its B 744s (JNB-LHR and CPT-LHR nonstops) as the A 346s will be flying and taking over from the B 747s to USA and AUSTRALIA.

We basically know what 737s will look like in RJ colours:


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Photo © Ian Woodrow


Like the nose of any 707 or 727 previously in operation with Alia.

The Airbus aircraft look nicer than the Boeings (with their paint scheme) in my opinion.

Isnt it amazing how Greece and Lebanon's landscape look in NO way similar to each other? LOL...

Thanks for the info B.

G

Arent Egypt Air and Kuwait Airways pahsing out their 777s and going all Airbus? besides they only operate a few each.