Airbus bets its future on the A350

CNN Money ^ | December 1, 2006

[Zakeet]

Planemaker says it will build a re-engineered version of the jet to take on Boeing that would enter service in 2013.

PARIS (Reuters) -- Airbus parent EADS decided Friday to go ahead with a new mid-sized jetliner to strike back at Boeing in their fight for market share and restore pride shattered by delays to its A380 superjumbo.

The pan-European company said its board had agreed after months of uncertainty to build a re-engineered version of the A350, the "extra-wide-bodied" A350 XWB, after an earlier version flopped in competition with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

The market for such 200-350-seat jets is estimated in the thousands, compared with 149 net sales for Airbus's 555-seat A380 whose deliveries have been delayed for two years.

The gap highlights a sharp reversal in the $50 billion cut-throat airliner industry Airbus shares with Boeing.

[Zakeet]

Of course, finding the $15 billion or so necessary to develop this airplane is yet to be resolved. As is the question of what to do with the A380. As is the question of how the market will accept the delay to 2013. As is the question of what Boeing will do in the interim. As is the question of whether any of their state sponsors will change their minds in the interim. Etc.

[Jorge]

a re-engineered version of the jet to take on Boeing that would enter service in 2013.

Only 5 years AFTER the Boeing 787 takes off..and that's if Airbus keeps THIS project on schedule.....

[spokeshave]

Note to Airbus IT dept...synchronize computers and get the 3D modelling option.

[spokeshave]

Note to Airbus IT dept...synchronize computers and get the 3D modelling option.

[Jorge]

Note to Airbus IT dept...synchronize computers and get the 3D modelling option.

And try using the same design software for ALL parts of the aircraft this time :)

[spokeshave]

Amazing that after implementing ISO9000 they still screwed up the computer apps.

[spokeshave]

Amazing that after implementing ISO9000 they still screwed up the computer apps.

[Jorge]

Amazing that after implementing ISO9000 they still screwed up the computer apps.

Can you imagine the bozo ISO auditor who certified them? What the hell was he looking at?

What a joke.

[rlmorel]

Airbus is between a rock and a hard place right now. They have some tap dancing to do.

[Bogeygolfer]

ping