Israeli Airlines Usually Hang Their Star On Boeings

Airbus wants Israel to fly its planes so much that it is offering a fuel price guarantee to three Israeli airlines.

The newpaper Haaretz says the European planemaker has prepared elaborate cost calculations of projected fuel consumption for Israel's three main airlines, El Al, Israir, and Arkia, and if the price is exceeded, Airbus will refund the difference.

The company is also prepared to buy back its planes after a specific period of time, if Israel doesn't want them anymore. And the manufacturer is also offering to train the pilots and maintenance crew at a reduced rate.

Currently, the only democracy in Middle-East is exclusively in the pro-American Boeing camp for jet airliners, but it is now in the market for a newer fleet. The three airlines say they are looking at all their options.

While Airbus is offering its readily available A330 and its new A350 model, the American company is pitching its 787 Dreamliner.

Since there's almost $1.5 billion to be spent, the three Israeli airlines are looking seriously at the Airbus offer and no doubt waiting to see what Boeing can do for them before they make their decision.

FMI: www.airbus.com, www.arkia.co.il/, www.elal.com, www.israirairlines.com,