State-controlled Czech Airlines (CSA) said Friday it will pay nearly a half-billion dollars for 12 Airbus passenger jets to replace older Boeing jets as part of a fleet modernization programme. CSA directors awarded a contract to the European consortium Airbus for six A320 and six A319 jets, to be delivered between next spring and 2008. The aircraft will be leased in a deal worth between 10 billion and 12.5 billion koruna (393 million to 492 million dollars), CSA said. CSA rejected a bid from Airbus' U.S. rival Boeing, although the airline could buy Boeing jumbo jets in the next few years when it begins replacing its Airbus A330s for long-haul flights. CSA Chief Excecutive Jaroslav Tvrdik said the winning bid provided "the best economic direction for Czech Airline's modernization", noting that Airbus supplemented the package with a free flight simulator worth 300 million koruna. Over the next 10 years CSA plans to expand its fleet to 63 aircraft, from the current 43, and replace its 30 Boeing 737 jets.
