Tuesday, June 21 2005 15:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Putting a lid on the controversy following its demand for a CVC probe into Air India's decision to buy aircraft from its competitor Boeing, Airbus Industrie today (Jun 21, 2005) said it was not going to revisit the past as its planes have emerged as a "preferred choice" for airlines in India.

"What has happened has happened. Time has gone by. We are now focussed on the future. Airbus aircraft have emerged as a preferred choice for the airlines in India," Kiran Rao, Senior Vice President (Sales) of the European aircraft manufacturer, said when specifically asked whether they still stood by their demand for an inquiry into the Air India Board's decision to select an all-Boeing fleet.

Referring to the recently concluded Paris Air Show, he said his company had bagged orders for supply of 320 aircraft worth $33.5 billion compared with 146 planes of US manufacturer Boeing worth 15.3 billion.

Indian carriers had led the aircraft buying spree with Air Deccan ordering 32 A-320s, Jet Airways ten A-330s with buying option for another ten, Kingfisher 15 aircraft including five double-decker A-380s and start-up airline InterGlobe placing orders for 100 A-320s, Rao said.

To another question on reports that Airbus was quoting lesser price for its planes for some foreign carriers than it did to Indian Airlines, Rao said, "We have responded to this and Indian Airlines is satisfied. We hope the deal will get the official approval in the next few weeks".

Indian Airlines' decision to acquire 43 all-Airbus planes is likely to come up before the Union Cabinet soon.