Plane Makers Waste No Time In Courting Bids

Happenings from the Asian Aerospace show in Singapore:

Asia's biggest air show starts: The Boeing Co. snagged its first big deal at Asia's biggest air show Tuesday, an order for 10 jets from Indian budget carrier Spicejet, as aviation companies tried to coax regional customers into splurging on superjumbos and sophisticated jet technology.

Airbus, meanwhile, flew in the world's largest passenger plane, the A380, to awe potential buyers at the Asian Aerospace exhibition in Singapore, while rival Boeing urged carriers to consider acquiring the wide-bodied 747-8, a more fuel-efficient version of the old workhorse jumbo that is expected to be ready for delivery in 2010.

The previous Asian Aerospace show in 2004 culminated in deals worth $3.6 billion.

This year's Asian Aerospace conference, which runs through Sunday, has more than 930 exhibitors from 43 countries. At least 27,000 trade representatives are expected at the biennial show, which ranks third globally behind shows held in alternating years in Paris and Farnborough, just outside London.

The rivalry between Chicago-based Boeing and Toulouse, France-based Airbus is taking center stage.

Airbus was flying high after finalizing a deal with Indian airlines Monday to sell 43 A320 and A319 passenger jets for $2.5 billion.

Boeing struck back Tuesday, announcing that Spicejet Ltd. has ordered 10 aircraft and taken an option to order another 10. The order, which exercises an existing option, is for five 737-800 series planes and five 737-900ER series planes, the two companies said.

Boeing working on Chinese deal for 737s: Boeing's top sales executive for the Asia-Pacific region said that Boeing is working on a deal with Chinese airlines to buy an additional 80 737s.

A firm contract could be wrapped up in time for an announcement in April, when Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Seattle.

The Chinese government announced in late 2005 that airlines would buy 150 Boeing 737s. Seventy of those planes have been ordered, with deposits paid by airlines.

Larry Dickenson, senior vice president of sales for Asia-Pacific, told The Wall Street Journal at the Singapore show that Boeing is now firming up orders for those remaining 80 planes

Bombardier in talks for parts: Bombardier Inc., the world's third-biggest commercial plane maker, said it's in talks with China Aviation Industry Corp. I to produce parts for a new, larger jet, three weeks after the $2.l billion airliner program was suspended.

AVIC I, China's biggest aircraft maker, would make "some major components" for the proposed C Series plane if it is revived, said Benjamin Boehm, Montreal-based Bombardier's commercial-plane program director.

Bombardier on Jan. 31 shelved plans to develop a new line of jets seating 110 to 130 passengers because it failed to sign up any airline customers. The program might resume next year, the company has said.

Lockheed looking to India: Lockheed Martin Corp., the biggest U.S. defense contractor, downplayed the potential effect of Washington's political influence on India's planned purchase of 126 new fighter jets.

Lockheed is competing with an array of airplane makers, including Boeing, Dassault Aviation of France, Sweden's Gripen-SAAB and Russia's Sukhoi, to sell jets to India in a deal worth at least $8 billion.

India currently has no American-made fighter aircraft, but its relationship with Washington -- which was tense during the Cold War -- is now rapidly warming. Both governments are working on a civilian nuclear deal, and President Bush plans to visit India next month.

Lockheed believes its multirole F-16 Fighting Falcon would "offer a tremendous capability to the Indian air force," as it could be tailored to meet different requirements and was relatively affordable, said June Shrewsbury, Lockheed's general manager for F-16 programs.

This report includes information from P-I reporter James Wallace, The Associated Press and Bloomberg News.

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