HK Airlines places $3.8b Airbus A380 order
Monday, 9 January 2012
HONG KONG, Jan 8 (BBC): Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) has placed an order for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft worth about $3.8bn (£2.5bn) at list prices.
The contract will be a relief for the European planemaker, as the order risked being derailed by a dispute between the European Union and China.
Beijing opposes an EU plan that international airlines comply with a scheme to tackle carbon emissions.
But Kenneth Thong, HKA's corporate governance head, told a television interview the order would go ahead. The carrier, which has ambitious expansion plans, is likely to have got a big discount on the order for the super-jumbo aircraft.
Mr Thong said the aircraft were needed to help boost the airline's growth.
The contract will be a relief for the European planemaker, as the order risked being derailed by a dispute between the European Union and China.
Beijing opposes an EU plan that international airlines comply with a scheme to tackle carbon emissions.
But Kenneth Thong, HKA's corporate governance head, told a television interview the order would go ahead. The carrier, which has ambitious expansion plans, is likely to have got a big discount on the order for the super-jumbo aircraft.
Mr Thong said the aircraft were needed to help boost the airline's growth.