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TOKYO: All Nippon Airways (ANA) is likely to buy five A380 jetliners and become the first Japanese carrier to fly the new superjumbo from Airbus, a news report said on Friday.
Japan's second-largest carrier is in the final stages of the deal, which is part of efforts to rein in surging fuel expenses, the Nikkei business daily said.
The paper said ANA was expected to wrap up the purchase, for an estimated 100 billion yen (937 million dollars), in September.
It said delivery delays by Boeing for its rival 787 Dreamliner were behind the move, but that the carrier was still considering a purchase from the US company.
Airbus has had a tough time cracking the Japanese aviation sector. It holds less than five percent of the market in Japan, whose airlines are mostly loyal Boeing customers.
ANA confirmed it had set up an in-house committee on Thursday but said it has yet to make any decision.
"It is still unknown if we will buy one of them or a mixture of the two candidates," Murakoshi said, adding that the firm has not set any deadline for a final decision.
The double-deck A380, which can seat a maximum of more than 800 passengers, will likely enter service in 2012 or later, Nikkei said.
ANA intends to use two on routes serving North America, such as between Tokyo and New York, and another two on flights to Europe, such as its Tokyo-London route. One A380 would likely be kept in reserve, it said.
The airline now estimates that by using the A380, which offers more than double the seat occupancy, it will be able to save about 7 billion yen a year in fuel costs on its Tokyo-New York route.
- AFP/jk
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