IAG reignites narrowbody competition

Speaking to media in the sidelines of the Airbus 2021 Summit meeting, sources are saying that the International Airline Group (IAG) has reignited the narrowbody competition between Airbus and Boeing by seeking an offer for an order for up to 200 new narrowbodies.

The move is interesting as IAG signed a LoI with Boeing during the Paris Air Show in 2019 for 200 B737MAXs. During the press-conference at the show, IAG's CEO said he was unhappy with Airbus for continuous delay of A320neo-deliveries and went with Boeing to ensure competition in the market. Since then, however, IAG hasn't firmed-up the LoI and now seems set to hold a new competition.

IAG is the holding company of Aer Lingus, British Airways, LEVEL and Vueling. It's also in the process of acquiring Air Europa. Currently, IAG has open orders with Airbus for 22 A320neos (seven for BA, seven for Iberia and eight for Vueling) and 28 A321neos (three for BA, eleven for Iberia and fourteen for Vueling). It did, however, recently decided to let 70 options on A320neo-family aircraft lapse.

Photo by Anton Homma.