FQC Service

2012-08-17 Author： Source:ATWonline Traffic：2543


Hong Kong Airlines (HX) is considering canceling its order for 10 Airbus A380s according to newswire AFP, amid ongoing Chinese government protests against the European union Emissions Trading Scheme tax (EU ETS).

"There are no firm decisions at this point. It will depend on how the business and the external environment evolves in the future," an HX spokesman told AFP. Despite the possible cancellation, the spokesperson told AFP that HX would eventually have an “all Airbus” fleet.

Consequently, it is also considering delaying delivery of six Boeing 777Fs, originally slated for delivery in 2013 and 2014, to “after”2015, according to Reuters, and replace five 787-800s and two 737-300Fs with A330s and A320s this year.

The carrier earlier this month said it would cease service between Hong Kong and London Gatwick from Sept. 10, to focus on a regional Asia-Pacific model following a review of its European strategy due to the weak economic outlook. The announcement came on the heels of a Hong Kong Civil Aviation Dept. ruling to freeze HX’s fleet expansion plans due to safety concerns surrounding its rapid fleet expansion.

The A380 order, placed in January, is valued at about $3.8 billion at list prices and was scheduled for first delivery in 2015.