IAG JOINT AIRCRAFT ORDER MOOTED

Enrique Dupuy, the finance chief of International Airlines Group (IAG), formed by the merger of British Airways and Iberia, has indicated that the two airlines plan to order aircraft together in a bid to boost buying power. IAG has placed its first order for eight Airbus A330-300s to replace up to 16 of Iberia’s long-haul A340 aircraft. Delivery is planned for the third quarter of 2012. Iberia has traditionally favoured leasing aircraft, and has most of its A340 fleet on operating leases that expire between the next six to seven years. BA however has traditionally opted to purchase new aircraft