U.S. airlines grapple with 'unfair tax' that adds to aircraft supply disruption

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An employee of Airbus works on a computer in an A320 production line at the Airbus plant in Hamburg

By David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. airlines are scrambling to digest a new 10% tariff on European-made Airbus (PA:AIR) planes that threaten additional havoc in a market already reeling from frozen deliveries of Boeing Co's (N:BA) 737 MAX.

In a statement late on Thursday, Delta Air Lines (N:DAL) called the proposed levy on aircraft from Europe that are already under contract for purchase "an unfair tax on U.S. consumers and companies."

The tariff on Airbus planes creates uncertainty for aircraft delivery terms much like the global grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX in March after two fatal crashes and comes at a time of threats to international air travel demand in the midst of slowing global economic growth and trade disputes.

No. 2 U.S. carrier Delta is not a 737 MAX customer but with some 266 Airbus orders is the most exposed to aircraft levies due to take effect on Oct. 18 after the World Trade Organization gave Washington the right to impose tariffs on $7.5 billion worth of EU goods annually in a long-running case.

Click here for an interactive graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2VkiSfy

Although the overall value of trade hit by sanctions was in line with expectations reported by Reuters, percentage tariffs were less than expected with Airbus planes initially subject to a tenth of the 100% rival Boeing had recommended.

Market sources said this was enough to disrupt trade in the cut-throat plane business but low enough to tempt some airlines to negotiate for Airbus to absorb some of the cost, squeezing its margins.

"10% is a deal breaker for airlines," an industry source said, noting that planes liable to the tariff may have to be delayed. Planemakers are typically reluctant to absorb such costs, the source added.

Airbus declined to comment on commercial negotiations.

On a positive note aircraft parts were spared from tariffs, which means independent repair shops, some feeling pain from the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX, will continue to function.

That will benefit Boeing and Airbus fleets equally, industry sources said.

AIRLINES REACT

Delta spokeswoman Lisa Hanna called on the Trump administration and EU to resolve the 15-year trade dispute "in a manner that respects existing contractual rights." Still, it welcomed Washington's decision to exempt aircraft production and deliveries from Airbus' plant in Mobile, Alabama.

The exemption means that the impact for U.S. airlines with orders for Airbus aircraft assembled in Alabama can be mitigated, Cowen analyst Helane Becker said, pointing to no-frills carrier Spirit Airlines (N:SAVE) as one carrier whose order book would mostly come from Alabama.

Shares of U.S. airlines rebounded on Friday after two days of losses.

Airbus' Alabama plant produces four A320-family narrowbody jets a month, and Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) analyst Jose Caiado estimated that the plant could fulfill at least half of the U.S. backlog over the next year at a rate of five jets per month.

Most of budget-friendly carrier JetBlue Airways' (O:JBLU) orders for narrowbody A321s and A220s would also be among those exempt, but the carrier still warned of a hit to travelers and commercial aviation.

"We are concerned about the detrimental impact aircraft tariffs will have on the ability for low-cost carriers like JetBlue to grow and compete, which will harm customers who rely on us to offer competitive, low fares," spokesman Derek Dombrowski said.

JetBlue continues to advocate for a resolution, he said.

Delta and JetBlue, with the second-largest Airbus order among U.S. carriers, had both lobbied for the tariffs to be applied only to new orders.

Delta and United Airlines (O:UAL) have the most orders for A350 and A330neo widebody jets, which Airbus cannot finish in Alabama. Widebody jets, with more premium seats, tend to have higher margins for airlines.

Just last week Delta pledged to buy 14 more A350s as part of a strategy to grow in Latin America through the acquisition of a 20% stake in LATAM Airlines Group (SN:LTM).

American Airlines Group (O:AAL) and Alaska Air Group (N:ALK) also have Airbus orders, as do lessors like Air Lease Corp (N:AL).

Most aircraft leases place the burden of taxes, maintenance and insurance on the operator, Macquarie analyst Sarah Stein said, but noted "it is unclear as to how far reaching the definition of taxes are in lease agreements in a unique scenario such as this one."

The head of Ireland's Ryanair (I:RYA) urged the United States and European Union to pull back from a tariff war over aircraft subsidies and said he would ask Boeing to "eat" any counter-tariffs imposed on the U.S. company by the EU.