CEO Says Russian Carrier Will Buy Boeings... And Airbuses

OK... let's try to figure this out. In April, Aeroflot announced its intention to buy 22 new aircraft. Last week, company directors met in Moscow... hinting they might supersize their order, buying up to 44 airframes. But they hadn't decided whether to go with Boeing or Airbus.

After the meeting, they said they'd decided not to decide. But wait... we're not finished yet.

As Aero-News reported Wednesday, the National Reserve Corporation -- a group that owns 30% of Aeroflot -- signed a deal to keep the airline's $3 billion option to purchase Boeing planes alive.

But a decision to actually buy those planes hadn't actually been made. And now, for the piece de resistance -- as if we're all not confused enough already -- an Aeroflot spokesman now says he had no idea what the National Reserve Corporation was doing.

Well, if you're still confused, this should clear it all up. Wednesday, Aeroflot's Chief Executive Valery Okulov told Reuters his company IS going to buy 22 787 Dreamliners, starting in 2010. But it's ALSO going to buy 22 Airbus A350 XWBs starting in 2012.

Okulov says the deal with Boeing is almost complete, but his team needs to put in a bit more work on the deal with Airbus.

Clear as mud?

THIS is why we at ANN didn't go into automotive sales (or, for some of us, got out of it quickly -- Ed.) Too stressful... and too confusing.

FMI: www.aeroflot.com