Royal Jordanian (RJ, Amman Queen Alia) has deferred a decision on its narrowbody fleet renewal plans until early 2019, chief executive Stefan Pichler has said.

Speaking to Reuters, Pichler said the carrier was still in talks with Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer over an order for 23 jets which will replace its existing fleet of four A319-100s, six A320-200s, two A321-200s, three E175s, and two E195s.

“I think right now it’s a head to head race ... and the best offer will win,” he told Reuters in Cairo. “We’ll probably make a call in the first quarter of 2019.”

Pichler had earlier told ch-aviation that he had anticipated reaching a decision by either September or October.