Airbus has offered Russian flag carrier Aeroflot a USD$100 million discount as it competes with Boeing for a USD$3 billion contract to deliver 22 new long-haul planes, the Vedomosti daily said on Thursday.
The business daily quoted a source close to Airbus as saying that the firm had offered the discount on its Airbus A350 aircraft, which is up against Boeing's 787 for the deal.
Quoting sources at the Russian carrier, Vedomosti said Aeroflot, which tendered for the long-haul aircraft last year, wants to buy 22 planes worth USD$3 billion and that it might sign an option to buy a further 12.
Aeroflot and Airbus officials declined comment.
Russian media have speculated that Aeroflot may opt for Boeing's long-haul jets instead of Airbus's.
Aeroflot Deputy General Director Lev Koshlyakov has said that the company hopes to sign the contract by end-March.
State-controlled Aeroflot is updating its fleet. It recently approved the lease of five Airbus A320 airliners, and has said it would also acquire seven A321 aircraft.
Boeing aircraft make up 81 percent of the foreign jet fleet of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, including 76 percent of Russia's 97 foreign-made jets.
