Boeing, Airbus To Vie For Huge United Jet Order
联合航空公司(United Airlines)已要求波音公司(Boeing Co.)和空中客车公司(Airbus)就其不超过150架新飞机的订单发起竞标，这是大型航空公司利用经济衰退之机低价采购的又一鲜活例证。对于波音和空客这两家飞机制造商来说，在其他客户都在取消或推迟订购之际，这笔交易的价值可能会超过100亿美元。据知情人士称，通过进行这种“胜者通吃”的竞标，联合航空母公司UAL Corp.希望争取到尽可能优惠的条件。鉴于当前旅行需求下滑以及信贷环境吃紧的局面，加之UAL近来蒙受的巨额亏损和糟糕的信用评级，联合航空此举着实惹人注目。不过，就算是在经济繁荣时期，飞机制造商也要费尽周折才能敲定一笔订单，通过内部融资部门及其他途径来帮助航空公司购买飞机。他们的目标只有一个，就是在航空业剧烈动荡之际确保产品需求稳定。目前有许多航空公司正试图利用经济滑坡（某种时候是钢铁等大宗商品价格的下降）来实现扩张或取得更优惠的价格。联合航空公司就是其中之一。即使在美国其他航空公司纷纷恢复订购新飞机之际，联合航空近年来却一直以其飞机订单稀缺为荣。通过在当前经济滑坡期间下订单，联合航空希望飞机能够在未来几年陆续交付，届时经济形势将已好转。而在以往，航空公司因在经济形势大好时期订购飞机而尝到了苦头，因为这使得它们在经济低迷期拥有过多闲置飞机。联合航空目前共拥有400架喷气式客机。据知情人士称，联合航空周二向波音公司和空中客车发出正式请求。请求函的核心内容是更换联合航空旗下111架宽体飞机中的多架飞机，以及97架老式波音757窄体飞机中的部分飞机。联合航空已委聘航空咨询公司Seabury Group LLC协助其与飞机制造商进行谈判。空中客车发言人拒绝对联合航空的请求予以证实或否认。波音发言人也不愿就此置评。空中客车是欧洲航空防务航天公司(European Aeronautic, Defense & Space Co.)的子公司。知情人士称，若波音或空客接受某些条件的话，那么联合航空可能最早于今秋签订一份大订单。这些消息人士还称，目前最关键的问题是，飞机制造商所制定的融资条件不会侵蚀联合航空的现金流。联合航空还希望以后能够灵活更改订单。在确定订单后，航空公司就必须遵守一份为期数年的购买和价格合约。不过，根据合约，航空公司通常可以通过支付有限的罚金来撤销交易。Susan Carey相关阅读波音下调第一财季业绩预期 2009-04-10美国批准波音对印度出售侦察机 2009-03-18波音公司2009年计划裁员10,000人 2009-01-29空客2008年新增订单领先波音 2009-01-14 本文涉及股票或公司document.write (truthmeter('2009年06月04日17:40', 'BA'));波音公司英文名称：Boeing Co.总部地点：美国上市地点：纽约证交所股票代码：BAdocument.write (truthmeter('2009年06月04日17:40', 'UAUA'));UAL Co.总部地点：美国上市地点：纳斯达克股票代码：UAUAdocument.write (truthmeter('2009年06月04日17:40', 'ABI.YY'));空中客车公司英文名称：Airbus总部地点：法国股票代码：ARBU
United Airlines has asked Boeing Co. and Airbus to propose dueling bids for up to 150 new airliners -- the latest example of major companies exploiting the recession to bargain-hunt.For the two aircraft makers, the deal could be worth more than $10 billion at a time when both are watching other customers cancel or defer orders. By staging a winner-take-all competition, United's parent, UAL Corp., is hoping to obtain better terms than otherwise might be available, according to people familiar with the situation.It's a notable move amid falling travel demand and a tight lending environment -- on top of UAL's recent heavy losses and poor credit rating. But even in good times aircraft builders will go to considerable lengths to lock in an order, using in-house financing arms and other maneuvers to help airlines buy. Their goal: Ensure a steady appetite for their product in the notoriously volatile airline business.United is among myriad companies attempting to use the economic downturn -- and in some cases, lower steel and other commodity costs -- as a chance to expand or land better pricing.United has taken pride in its lack of aircraft orders in recent years, even as U.S. rivals started reopening their checkbooks. By ordering now, in the downturn, it hopes to be able to start taking delivery of the planes in a few years, when the economy is better. In the past, airlines have gotten stung by placing orders in good times, then having too many planes in a downturn.United, which has a total fleet of 400 jetliners, sent a formal request to Boeing and Airbus on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said. The request focuses on replacing many of United's 111-airplane wide-body fleet, as well as some of its 97 aging Boeing 757 narrow-body planes, these people said.Chicago-based United has hired aviation consulting firm Seabury Group LLC to help it negotiate with the builders.A spokesman for Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co., declined to confirm or deny United's request. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment.United could sign a major order as early as the fall, the people familiar with the matter said, if Boeing or Airbus agree to certain conditions. The most crucial would be financing arranged by the manufacturer that doesn't eat into United's cash, these people said. United also wants the flexibility to change the order later, according to these people. By placing a firm order, an airline is committing to a buying and price schedule that stretches for years. However, contracts typically allow airlines to wriggle out of those deals with limited penalties.Susan Carey
United Airlines has asked Boeing Co. and Airbus to propose dueling bids for up to 150 new airliners -- the latest example of major companies exploiting the recession to bargain-hunt.For the two aircraft makers, the deal could be worth more than $10 billion at a time when both are watching other customers cancel or defer orders. By staging a winner-take-all competition, United's parent, UAL Corp., is hoping to obtain better terms than otherwise might be available, according to people familiar with the situation.It's a notable move amid falling travel demand and a tight lending environment -- on top of UAL's recent heavy losses and poor credit rating. But even in good times aircraft builders will go to considerable lengths to lock in an order, using in-house financing arms and other maneuvers to help airlines buy. Their goal: Ensure a steady appetite for their product in the notoriously volatile airline business.United is among myriad companies attempting to use the economic downturn -- and in some cases, lower steel and other commodity costs -- as a chance to expand or land better pricing.United has taken pride in its lack of aircraft orders in recent years, even as U.S. rivals started reopening their checkbooks. By ordering now, in the downturn, it hopes to be able to start taking delivery of the planes in a few years, when the economy is better. In the past, airlines have gotten stung by placing orders in good times, then having too many planes in a downturn.United, which has a total fleet of 400 jetliners, sent a formal request to Boeing and Airbus on Tuesday, people familiar with the matter said. The request focuses on replacing many of United's 111-airplane wide-body fleet, as well as some of its 97 aging Boeing 757 narrow-body planes, these people said.Chicago-based United has hired aviation consulting firm Seabury Group LLC to help it negotiate with the builders.A spokesman for Airbus, a unit of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co., declined to confirm or deny United's request. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment.United could sign a major order as early as the fall, the people familiar with the matter said, if Boeing or Airbus agree to certain conditions. The most crucial would be financing arranged by the manufacturer that doesn't eat into United's cash, these people said. United also wants the flexibility to change the order later, according to these people. By placing a firm order, an airline is committing to a buying and price schedule that stretches for years. However, contracts typically allow airlines to wriggle out of those deals with limited penalties.Susan Carey