Cameroon to buy three Boeing jets for new carrier

YAOUNDE, June 25 (Reuters) - Cameroon will buy three aircraft from Boeing (BA.N) at a cost of 100 billion CFA francs ($215 million) for its new carrier Cameroon Airlines Corporation (CAMAIRCO), the central African country's transport minister said.
"The government has ... set aside some 100 billion CFA francs and negotiations are well advanced for the purchase of three planes from Boeing," Gounoukou Haounaye told parliament on Wednesday, without identifying the type of aircraft.
CAMAIRCO, which is yet to begin flying, was created in 2006 to replace the country's then lone carrier Cameroon Airlines which went bankrupt and collapsed.
"I cannot give you a precise date when the company will begin flights, but I can assure you that it will be very soon," Haounaye said.
The government was also concluding talks for a strategic partner who will own 51 percent of the airline, he said.
Orders for aircraft in 2009 are the slowest for at least 15 years. Last year Boeing and its European rival Airbus (EAD.PA) took net orders of 1,439 planes combined, but this year's number stands at just over 100 so far. (Reporting by Tansa Musa; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)