August 8, 2008
Spain's Marsans is forging ahead with its purchase of 61 Airbus planes despite the looming sale of its subsidiary Aerolineas Argentinas, which was due to take around 40 of the aircraft, a spokesman for the travel firm said on Friday.
Last October's deal, which included the purchase of four A380 superjumbos, was the foundation of Marsans' project to challenge Iberia's dominance of Europe-Latin America routes by funneling traffic through a new hub in Barcelona.
It planned to use Air Comet, Aerolineas Argentinas and Spanair, however since it signed the deal with Airbus last October, it withdrew from the bidding for SAS-owned Spanair and has agreed to sell Aerolineas to Argentina.
"The order is still firm, and will continue to be. There has been absolutely no change," Marsans Communications Director Angel del Rio said. "What could change is their use depending on what happens at Air Comet and so on."
Del Rio said all options remained open for the privately-owned travel group. It could re-launch its South Atlantic plan or re-sell the aircraft to other airlines, thus allowing them to jump Airbus's waiting list.
Argentinas, the country's biggest airline, was one carrier that could buy the aircraft if Marsans' put the planes up for sale, del Rio said.
The sale of Marsans' 95 percent stake in Argentinas has become increasingly fractious since the deal was agreed in mid-July as the two sides argue over the price of the airline which has debts of around USD$900 million.
Argentina's transport secretary Ricardo Jaime said on Wednesday the government should not have to pay Marsans anything for the carrier, which has been plagued by worker strikes and complaints about poor service.
Del Rio said independent assessors would decide the company's value, although Argentina's legislature will also have to agree the sale price.
(Reuters)
Spain's Marsans is forging ahead with its purchase of 61 Airbus planes despite the looming sale of its subsidiary Aerolineas Argentinas, which was due to take around 40 of the aircraft, a spokesman for the travel firm said on Friday.
Last October's deal, which included the purchase of four A380 superjumbos, was the foundation of Marsans' project to challenge Iberia's dominance of Europe-Latin America routes by funneling traffic through a new hub in Barcelona.
It planned to use Air Comet, Aerolineas Argentinas and Spanair, however since it signed the deal with Airbus last October, it withdrew from the bidding for SAS-owned Spanair and has agreed to sell Aerolineas to Argentina.
"The order is still firm, and will continue to be. There has been absolutely no change," Marsans Communications Director Angel del Rio said. "What could change is their use depending on what happens at Air Comet and so on."
Del Rio said all options remained open for the privately-owned travel group. It could re-launch its South Atlantic plan or re-sell the aircraft to other airlines, thus allowing them to jump Airbus's waiting list.
Argentinas, the country's biggest airline, was one carrier that could buy the aircraft if Marsans' put the planes up for sale, del Rio said.
The sale of Marsans' 95 percent stake in Argentinas has become increasingly fractious since the deal was agreed in mid-July as the two sides argue over the price of the airline which has debts of around USD$900 million.
Argentina's transport secretary Ricardo Jaime said on Wednesday the government should not have to pay Marsans anything for the carrier, which has been plagued by worker strikes and complaints about poor service.
Del Rio said independent assessors would decide the company's value, although Argentina's legislature will also have to agree the sale price.
(Reuters)