Years-long bid for LOT order may have been won by Airbus over Embraer
One of the largest and longest-running competitions for aircraft with up to 150 seats may have been won by Airbus over Embraer.
State-owned airline LOT Polish Airlines is said to have chosen the A220 over the E2, which it also operates, according to Reuters sources on Friday.
The Polish carrier is considering an order for up to 80 aircraft with 100 to 150 seats in order to replace its regional fleet of jets and expand its presence in Europe and other medium-haul destinations.
The plan, however, is quite old and has been announced since at least 2021. There have even been reports indicating the A220 as the winner, but they have not resulted in any orders to date.
LOT, on the other hand, leased three E195-E2s that were in final assembly and were destined for another airline.
The aircraft have been in service since July last year and join the 44 first-generation E-Jets for which it was the launch customer in 2004.
Because it knows the Brazilian jet better than any other operator, LOT seemed inclined to continue its relationship with Embraer. The manufacturer even announced plans to invest in Poland if it wins a new order.
A220 orders expected at Le Bourget
Airbus, for its part, has been playing hard to attract more orders for the A220, an aircraft considered very efficient and capable, but which has stalled at 900 orders for some time.
The start of the Paris Air Show on Monday should be the stage for several deals aimed at the Canadian-origin jet, with airlines such as AirAsia and Royal Air Maroc among the potential new customers.
If confirmed, the choice of the A220 will be a bolder decision by LOT’s management, since the company does not operate Airbus aircraft and will have to invest in training crew and ground staff, as well as support infrastructure, among other things.
For Embraer, it will be a painful defeat, since it seemed to have a good chance in the LOT bid.
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Ricardo Meier
Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.
