TNT, the global freight and delivery group, is in talks with European giant Airbus over a “massive” order for a new fleet of jets.
TNT, the global freight and delivery group, is in talks with European giant Airbus over a “massive” order for a new fleet of jets.
TNT Airways, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based group, has confirmed it is planning a “massive purchase” of new freighters and that it has put proposals to Airbus and its American rival Boeing, with Airbus currently proving “far more responsive”. The discussions are centred on replacing TNT’s fleet of Boeing 737-300Fs with narrow-body jets in the A320 family.
The Business understands that TNT Airways leases eight Boeing 737-300Fs, which make up almost a third of its fleet. TNT leases its planes, and discussions over the new fleet also involve leasing companies.
The one potential obstacle is that a manufacturing backlog at Airbus could see TNT’s production requirement pushed out until 2013 at the earliest.
