Final Word from Tuesday, October 12, 2004
A few days before ČSA was to choose a supplier of 12 new airplanes, the government approved Boeing's withdrawal from near-bankrupt Aero Vodochody. The timing of the Aero announcement raised rumors that there was a link between Boeing's exit and the ČSA contract. The government has been trying to get Boeing to leave for some time and was able to claim victory when the Americans gave up their 35% stake for a mere dime. If Boeing now wins the ČSA deal, the rumormongers - who include the Financial Times, TV Nova and Euro - will all be able to say, "We told you so." Given the pressure for the CR to support Europe, it seems unlikely that Premier Stanislav Gross or ČSA CEO Jaroslav Tvrdík made any promises to Boeing about airliners. More likely, Boeing was told that if it didn't go quietly, it wouldn't have any chance at all of winning the ČSA deal. European Union Airbus