Air France and Airbus: A Protectionist Love Story
PLEA FOR PATRIOTISM: The French government has appealed to the patriotic sentiments of France's major airline, Air France, requesting that they rethink their decision to order airplanes from Boeing. (Joel Saget/AFP/Getty Images) PARISA few weeks ahead of a major plane order from French national carrier Air France, the French government is openly asking the company to show more patriotism and think twice before ordering from American-based Boeing.
The controversy started when Bernard Carayon, a conservative member of Parliament with the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, petitioned Air France along with 144 other members of Parliament, urging the company to help maintain airline industry jobs in France. The French state holds 16 percent of Air France shares.
Information about the order for 100 new aircraft was obtained by French politicians ahead of Air Frances official announcement planned for the beginning of July. In La Croix newspaper, Carayon explained that a source close to the decision makers informed him that Air France would strongly favor U.S.-based Boeing.
The French economy is suffering and latest unemployment figures stand at 9.4 percent. In April, the country posted a trade imbalance of 7 billion euros ($10.1 billion), according to le Figaro newspaper.
Pierre Lellouche, secretary of state for Foreign Trade, asked Air France to explain its decision. Lellouche also told AFP that he expects Air France to return the favor referring to the government helping Air France when it had problems with European Union regulators.
In La Tribune, Thierry Mariani, secretary of state for Transport, confirmed that the government would carefully look into the fact that French industry is duly considered.
For Carayon, it is obvious that Air France should only buy French products engineered in Europe. Americans buy American. It is only natural that Airbus is selected by Air France. Air France is not Air Boeing, he told Europe 1 radio.
The Parliament member added that he is surprised by reactions to patriotism hes heard, whereas in the United States, no one would even ask such a question.
The controversy started when Bernard Carayon, a conservative member of Parliament with the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, petitioned Air France along with 144 other members of Parliament, urging the company to help maintain airline industry jobs in France. The French state holds 16 percent of Air France shares.
Information about the order for 100 new aircraft was obtained by French politicians ahead of Air Frances official announcement planned for the beginning of July. In La Croix newspaper, Carayon explained that a source close to the decision makers informed him that Air France would strongly favor U.S.-based Boeing.
The French economy is suffering and latest unemployment figures stand at 9.4 percent. In April, the country posted a trade imbalance of 7 billion euros ($10.1 billion), according to le Figaro newspaper.
Pierre Lellouche, secretary of state for Foreign Trade, asked Air France to explain its decision. Lellouche also told AFP that he expects Air France to return the favor referring to the government helping Air France when it had problems with European Union regulators.
Currently, Air France operates twice as many Boeing planes as it does Airbus planes, 63 compared to 35, in ! its long -distance fleet, a balance reflecting the fact that Airbus has long lacked an equivalent to the Boeing 777. Air Frances planned mega-order is its first since the merger of the company with Dutch KLM, and could be worth dozens of billion of dollars.A 'source close to the decision makers' informed [MP Carayon] that Air France would strongly favor U.S.-based Boeing.
In La Tribune, Thierry Mariani, secretary of state for Transport, confirmed that the government would carefully look into the fact that French industry is duly considered.
For Carayon, it is obvious that Air France should only buy French products engineered in Europe. Americans buy American. It is only natural that Airbus is selected by Air France. Air France is not Air Boeing, he told Europe 1 radio.
The Parliament member added that he is surprised by reactions to patriotism hes heard, whereas in the United States, no one would even ask such a question.
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