RJ looks to Boeing to help fund A340 cabin refits

Speaking to Arabian Aerospac e in Amman today, the airline’s new chief executive Hussein Dabbas said that the airline was in talks with Boeing about support for the cost of the refurbishment.

The airline’s two A340 aircraft used for the long-haul flights to the USA from the Jordanian capital are to be completely refitted at a cost of $4million per aircraft.

Dabbas said the work would be done in Jordan and would feature new seats and integrated IFE system from French company Sicma.

“The system is called SiT (seat integrated technology) and includes audio and video on demand (AVOD),” Dabbas said. “Because it does away with the boxes under the seats and works like fibre optics there is a great weight saving.”

The airline is also reviewing whether to lease replacements to its A310 widebodies used on routes to the Indian subcontinent until the 2013-2016 introduction of the Dreamliners.

"Boeing has promised us before that we will have first flight and deliveries. I hope they keep to their promise this time and fly this year," he said.

Meantime, Dabbas suggested that Royal Jordanian may purchase or lease a further two Embraer 175 regional jets.

“We have been able to increase frequency using the EJets and this is an area we will be  focusing on as we come out of the downturn” Dabbas said.