IA bids for new fleet open tomorrow

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Dec. 24

INDIAN Airlines (IA) is to open the financial bids for its multi-billion dollar fleet renewal and expansion plan on December 26. In a statement on Monday, the airline said that the bids will be examined by its three-member Aircraft evaluation committee.

The committee is to carry out a detailed analysis for submission of a specific proposal for the consideration of the airlines board of directors and finally by the Government.

The airline received financial bids from the two major aircraft manufacturers - Boeing and Airbus - on December 21, the last day for submission of the bids.

IA decided to call for revised price bids after receiving a letter from Boeing that the company was ready to revise the prices earlier offered.

The price bids submitted would be valid for six months, sources said, adding that nothing prevents IA asking the manufacturers to extend their offers for a longer time period.The list price of an aircraft includes flight crew, engineering, maintenance and despatch training.

However, the sources refused to speculate on how a reduction in prices would affect the training programmes offered with the reduced price.

Among the aircraft offered by Boeing are the 100-seater 717-200 and several versions of the new-generation Boeing 737, including the Boeing 737-600 (100-seater), Boeing 737-800 (150-seater) and the Boeing 737-900 (189 seater).