Company Watch - Airbus

Airbus EADS says it is not looking for Airbus investors. An EADS spokesman on Thursday denied media reports that the company is looking for a partner to invest in jetmaker Airbus. BAE Systems recently sold back its 20% stake in Airbus to EADS, making EADS the sole owner. Nov 17, 2006

Airbus EADS Denies Seeking Airbus Investor. European aerospace group EADS denied plans to sell part of its Airbus planemaker unit to Gulf investors to raise money for a new aircraft -- but doubts remained over how the A350 would be funded. Nov 16, 2006

US files updated WTO complaint on Airbus. The U.S. on Wednesday warned that Airbus would break trade rules if it accepted state aid to build the wide-body A350. The U.S. made the statements in an updated complaint filed with the World Trade Organization against European government spending on Airbus. Nov 16, 2006

Airbus A350 Decision Within Two Weeks. Airbus on Tuesday promised its staff and investors a decision within two weeks on whether to go ahead with the USD$10 billion A350 XWB. Nov 14, 2006

Airbus to outsource work on new jet. Airbus says it will outsource $3.5 billion in work on its new mid-sized jet, the A350XWB, according to media reports. The company hopes outsourcing lowers the cost of developing the plane. Nov 14, 2006

Regulators travel on A380 final test flights. FAA and EU representatives are traveling on an Airbus A380 undergoing a final round of airworthiness test flights. The A380 is on track for certification in mid-December, a company spokeswoman says. Nov 14, 2006

Questions linger about Airbus A300 rudders. American Airlines, a group of pilots and other aviation observers say the NTSB did not fully consider evidence suggesting potential flaws with the rudders of the A300 that may have contributed to a fatal 2001 crash. Instead, the board attributed the crash of an American Airlines A300 in New York City mainly to pilot error. Last year, mechanics inspecting the rudder of a FedEx A300 found about three square feet of unsuspected and previously undetected damage to the composite structure. Nov 13, 2006

ALAFCO, Airblue place A320 orders. Airbus won six and two A320 firm orders from Kuwaiti lessor ALAFCO and Pakistani carrier Airblue respectively. Nov 14, 2006

US Airways say the merger would drive a consolidation of wide-body aircraft. Delta operates 104 767-300/400 aircraft and eight 777s. The US Airways fleet includes 10 767-200s and nine A330-300s. The fleet plan does involve a reduction in 50-seat regional jets. Officials avoided specifics in any aircraft category. Nov 19, 2006

TAM, already the largest Airbus operator in Latin America, signed a contract for 12 A319s, 16 A320s, three A321s and six A330s that brings the number of A320 family aircraft on firm order to 56. It also took 12 options. The deal finalizes an MOU signed in June. TAM currently operates 14 A319s, 48 A320s and 10 A330-200s. The new purchase closely follows its first Boeing order, which comprises four 777-300ERs. Nov 16, 2006

Thai Air May Still Cancel A380 Order. Thai Airways would not rule out the possibility of canceling its order for six Airbus A380 superjumbos as delivery delays force it to alter its long-term business plan, an executive said on Friday. Nov 17, 2006

US Airways' close relationship with Airbus, which traces to long before the manufacturer helped fund the airline's exit from bankruptcy, could redound to Airbus's benefit. Nov 19, 2006

US Airways disputed that it is "an Airbus airline." It is working with Boeing in a replacement program for 737 and 757s, Parker says. Furthermore, Boeing occupies the chair of the Delta creditors committee and will be in a position to wield strong influence--for the merger or against it--in addition to securing a place for Boeing aircraft. Nov 19, 2006

Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: edit@AirGuideOnline.com

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Nov 13, 2006