Airbus frets over House Iran vote with $27b deal at stake
Airbus Group said it’s evaluating the implications of a congressional vote that could block it and Boeing Co from providing jets to Iran, though hasn’t given up on completing a $27b order announced in January. Airbus will wait to see how the US Senate and President Barack Obama respond to the House decision, Claude Brandes, its vice president with responsibility for customer finance in the Mideast, said in an interview. Even if the Iran sale wins a reprieve, the vote has created a “state of uncertainty” just as the European company is negotiating final terms. “Whatever the substance of the measure it’s not great in terms of timing,” Brandes said. “We need to see the wording and we need to see how the Iranians react.” Whether or not Obama vetoes the House measure, as the White House has suggested, it “doesn’t bode well” for when President-elect Donald Trump takes over, he said. Trump has said he wants to tear up or renegotiate the nuclear deal to which the aircraft sales are tied. Brandes said Airbus might be able to go ahead with the delivery of a single A321 narrow-body before the end of this year should Iran pay in cash, though the aircraft “was discussed as part of a package” and a final contract would still need to be signed. The plane maker had also discussed supplying four A330 wide-bodies by May, he said.<br/>Even if the Airbus deal survives Republican opposition, it may not translate into a firm contract for all 118 aircraft specified, given that Iran signed an accord with Boeing for 109 planes five months later, with the final split between the manufacturers remaining in a state of flux, the executive said. The eventual numbers may be determined by Iran’s success in securing funds, which has been complicated by the political sensitivities of the deal. While the US Treasury Department in September granted Airbus a licence to supply the first 17 jets, the Mideast state is seeking financing from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, which would require further authorisation, Brandes said.<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2016-11-21/general/airbus-frets-over-house-iran-vote-with-27b-deal-at-stake
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Airbus frets over House Iran vote with $27b deal at stake
Airbus Group said it’s evaluating the implications of a congressional vote that could block it and Boeing Co from providing jets to Iran, though hasn’t given up on completing a $27b order announced in January. Airbus will wait to see how the US Senate and President Barack Obama respond to the House decision, Claude Brandes, its vice president with responsibility for customer finance in the Mideast, said in an interview. Even if the Iran sale wins a reprieve, the vote has created a “state of uncertainty” just as the European company is negotiating final terms. “Whatever the substance of the measure it’s not great in terms of timing,” Brandes said. “We need to see the wording and we need to see how the Iranians react.” Whether or not Obama vetoes the House measure, as the White House has suggested, it “doesn’t bode well” for when President-elect Donald Trump takes over, he said. Trump has said he wants to tear up or renegotiate the nuclear deal to which the aircraft sales are tied. Brandes said Airbus might be able to go ahead with the delivery of a single A321 narrow-body before the end of this year should Iran pay in cash, though the aircraft “was discussed as part of a package” and a final contract would still need to be signed. The plane maker had also discussed supplying four A330 wide-bodies by May, he said.<br/>Even if the Airbus deal survives Republican opposition, it may not translate into a firm contract for all 118 aircraft specified, given that Iran signed an accord with Boeing for 109 planes five months later, with the final split between the manufacturers remaining in a state of flux, the executive said. The eventual numbers may be determined by Iran’s success in securing funds, which has been complicated by the political sensitivities of the deal. While the US Treasury Department in September granted Airbus a licence to supply the first 17 jets, the Mideast state is seeking financing from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, which would require further authorisation, Brandes said.<br/>
