European aircraft manufacturers Airbus have joined the race for the Government's multi-million euro contract for a new Cabinet transport jet.
Like fellow-bidders Bombardier Aerospace, Airbus offers a number of aircraft which would cost less than the €50 million earmarked for the purchase.
Mr Cronan Enright, customer marketing director of Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), the company's business jet division, said 16 governments already fly its aircraft, including the French and Italian administrations, which have two and three ACJs, respectively.
The A319, which has a catalogue price of $45 million (€41.5 million), has capacity for 120 seats in a commercial passenger set-up, or 40 seats spread between ministerial and entourage compartments in an executive configuration.
