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PARIS -(Dow Jones)- A spokesman for aircraft manufacturer Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EAD.FR), said Wednesday the company would be “surprised” if Royal Air Maroc was to force it out of its fleet in favor of its U.S. rival Boeing Co. (BA).
“In order to use our planes, they had to develop a certain expertise and partners. We would be surprised if they stopped using these aircraft,” he said, adding that Royal Air Maroc had been operating four A321’s for the past eight years.
French daily La Tribune reported Wednesday that Royal Air Maroc was planning to stop using the four Airbus planes, citing unnamed sources close to Airbus, and that the Moroccan airline would sign a 15-year exclusivity contract with U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing This would be discussed during French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Morocco on Thursday, the paper reported.
The Airbus spokesman added that the company was aware that Royal Air Maroc was facing financial difficulties and that was why it offered a switch to A321 NEO aircraft. This would allow Royal Air Maroc to cut costs by up to 30%, he said.
-By Noemie Bisserbe, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 4017 1756; noemie.bisserbe@ dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 09-28-110556ET Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc
