United Complains Airbus Won’t Give It Competitive Prices

Airbus cannot give United Airlines a competitive price for new single-aisle aircraft because of a deal the manufacturer struck with American Airlines several years ago, United President Scott Kirby told employees recently in Los Angeles. American's deal with Airbus — called a "most-favorable customer" clause — suggests United may add more Boeing aircraft than Airbuses in the near future. But Kirby, until August 2016 American's president, said the deal eventually expires — he did not say when — and that United will seriously consider Airbus jets. American, historically a Boeing and McDonnell Douglas operator, placed a large order in 2011 for Airbus A319s and A321s, a deal that proved Airbus could win big business from a major U.S. airline. The New York Times called it a "coup" for Airbus. "One of the challenges for us buying new airplanes right now is that Airbus did a deal wi