Goodyear radials for Australian airline

By Patrick Raleigh ERJ On-line news editor

Singapore-Qantas Airways has agreed a five-year deal to fit Goodyear's Flight Radial aviation tyres on its low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways, Goodyear announced 24 Feb at the Asian Aerospace air show.

Melbourne-based Jetstar Airways plans to operate a fleet of 23 Airbus A320 aircraft throughout Australia and Asia, said a Goodyear press statement. Flight Radials for the A320 fleet will be retreaded at Goodyear's facility in Melbourne, it added.

“Jetstar's selection of the Goodyear Flight Radial on the Airbus A320 represents a trend for cost-conscious airlines. The switch from bias-ply tyres to cost-effective radials is easily justified,” said Donald Roulett, global marketing manager for Goodyear aviation tyres, in the statement.

Goodyear has a leading 37-percent share of global aircraft tyre market, which is worth an estimated $343 million. However, the US firm trails well behind Groupe Michelin and Bridgestone Corp. in the radial aircraft tyre sector, which is led by Michelin with a 67-percent market share. Radial tyres represent just under a fifth of aircraft tyre sales worldwide.

Last year, Goodyear gained a contract to supply radials for Aeroflot Russian Airlines' Airbus A320 fleets, and Mexico's Mexicana Airlines. The US group's radials are also fitted on Airbus A320 and A319 aircraft operated by Lufthansa, All Nippon Airlines and Air Canada.

Goodyear Flight Radials weigh up to 20 percent less than cross-ply aircraft tyres, and offer improved rolling resistance and fuel efficiency, according to Roulett. Radial tyres deliver operational cost savings by allowing more landings per tread and extra load-carrying capacity, he also claimed.