Airlines face rise in cost of buying jets
23 December 2010Airlines around the world face a sharp rise in the cost of buying passenger jets under new export financing rules to be discussed by government officials in Paris this week, confidential documents prepared for their meeting reveal.
The rules would mean many airlines that have long used export credit agencies to help finance some of their jets will encounter higher upfront fees.
The plan represents a victory for 24 US and European airlines that cannot get export credit agency (ECA) loan guarantees themselves because they are based in countries where the big jetmakers manufacture aircraft. The little-known agreement, called the home country rule, affects airlines based in France, the UK, Germany, Spain and the US, where either Airbus or Boeing make aircraft.
source: FT.com
