Sun, Oct 09, 2005
Move Contradicts Earlier Remarks Of No Government Launch
Aid
Less than 48 hours after asserting there were no plans (at the
time) to accept subsidies for its new A350 airliner, Airbus
representatives announced Friday the European consortium had
received "legally binding" government funding for the launch of its
new Boeing 787 competitor.
US diplomats in Geneva made no public response to Airbus CEO
Gustav Humbert's announcement the company has received commitments
for funding on the A350 from all four governments with a stake in
Airbus -- France, Germany, Britain, and Spain, according to the
Associated Press.
The Airbus announcement seemed to
contradict an earlier statement, reported in Aero-News, by Airbus
parent company EADS that there were no current plans to accept
government launch subsidies for the A350 program.
EADS called its
decision Thursday, announced at the same time the A350 (file photo,
right) was approved for production by EADS board members, "a
new window of opportunity" into diffusing the tense legal battle,
currently being played before the World Trade Organization, between
the European Union and US over government subsidies of its
respective countries' aircraft programs.
The Thursday announcement was met largely by silence
from US representatives, an indication perhaps to
Airbus it wasn't worth foregoing the government aid in order
to win negligible points with the WTO.
French Transport Ministry spokesman Arnaud LeBlanc said his
office had signed an agreement to grant launch aid to Airbus for
the A350, "without specifying the timing or the amount." He added
this plan leaves room for negotiation with the US.
The A350 is a medium-size long-range airliner designed to rival
Boeing's similar 787 Dreamliner. Airbus plans to launch the A350 by
2010, two years after Boeing begins customer deliveries of the
787.
More News
Maximum Authorized Altitude A published altitude representing the maximum usable altitude or flight level for an airspace structure or route segment. It is the highest altitude on >[...]
Aero Linx: Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF) The Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF) is the Training and Safety arm of the Soaring Society of America (SSA). Our mission is to provide ins>[...]
From 2013 (YouTube Version): Dracula Lives On Through Kyle Franklin... and We're NOT Scared! ANN CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Jim Campbell speaks with Aerobatic and airshow master, Kyl>[...]
“For Montaer Aircraft it is a very prudent move to incorporate such reliable institution as Ocala Aviation, with the background of decades in training experience and aviation>[...]
Also: ForeFlight Upgrades, Cicare USA, Vittorazi Engines, EarthX We have a number of late-breaking news highlights from the 2024 Innovation Preview... which was PACKED with real ne>[...]