EADS chief 'enormously frustrated' over WTO delays

The head of Airbus parent EADS said he is "enormously frustrated" with the World Trade Organization, which he claims is being "unfair" by delaying its report on complaints against arch-rival Boeing.

Both companies have been reported to the WTO, which has struggled for years to rule over whether they benefited from unfair subsidies.

"We are in an abnormal and increasingly unfair situation," EADS chief Louis Gallois said at media day in London. His comments were held for release.

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EADS sees Airbus-Boeing duopoly ending

For years, the Farnborough airshow was a bitter dogfight between Boeing and Airbus.

That may soon be over.

The head of Airbus parent EADS said Saturday that the duopoly is being challenged by new entrants from Canada, China, Brazil and Russia who are eyeing the lucrative single-aisle market.

"We have new competitors now," said Louis Gallois at a media day in London before the airshow, which starts Monday.

Canadian and Chinese competitors are the closest _ although they are still years from making a dent in the markets for the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, he said.

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Airbus leads Boeing but problems linger

SEVILLE, Spain — Airbus on Tuesday said it beat rival Boeing in aircraft production in 2009, maintaining its place as the world's largest planemaker, but warned that a troubled military transport program is endangering the rest of the company.

CEO Tom Enders said Airbus should cancel the delayed and over-budget A400M project if customer governments fail to commit more funds soon because it is swallowing money and valuable resources.

The issue overshadowed the news that Airbus delivered a record 498 aircraft in 2009, above its 2008 tally of 483 and Boeing's score of 481.

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It Flies! Airbus' Hulking A400M Has Maiden Flight

The A400M military transport plane that has been causing Airbus and European defense ministers budgetary and logistical headaches finally took to the skies for its maiden flight on Friday.

But even as the hulking gray airlifter took off from the Spanish city of Seville, defense officials are meeting on the sidelines of the event to decide how to continue with the much delayed and over budget project.

Louis Gallois, head of Airbus parent EADS, said he found the takeoff "more moving than I expected. It's enormous. We've been waiting a long time."

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Airbus sees bottom of industry slump

LE BOURGET, France -- Airbus CEO Tom Enders was in high spirits on Friday, saying the unexpected crop of orders won at the Paris Air Show shows the heart of the aviation industry is still beating despite the recession.

Unlike archrival Boeing Co. - which managed a single order for two planes worth a paltry $153 million - the European planemaker chalked up firm orders for 58 planes worth $6.4 billion over five days, mostly from Asian and budget airlines.

Including commitments - when customers make a deposit but the sale is not legally binding - Airbus signed deals worth $12.9 billion for 127 planes.

Enders told The Associated Press that Airbus "didn't expect" such a score.

"I think it's a good sign for the entire industry," he said in a interview. "It's a good sign that aviation is not collapsing, that there is not doom and gloom all over."

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Plenty reasons to be gloomy at Paris Air Show

LE BOURGET, France -- The Paris Air Show opens Monday under a morose, uneasy cloud.

Already reeling from the global recession, the aviation industry gathering in the city where Air France Flight 447 should have landed only two weeks ago has been shaken by the still unexplained crash.

Pilots of the doomed Airbus A330 en route from Brazil to Paris did not even have time to make a mayday call before their plane plunged into the sea, killing all 228 people aboard.

"The aviation community is still under some shock with the severity of this accident," said Airbus CEO Tom Enders on Saturday.

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Airbus retains title as world's largest planemaker

Airbus claimed the title of the world's largest planemaker on Thursday after delivering a record number of aircraft in 2008, but predicted a difficult year ahead for the industry as airlines curb spending amid the economic crisis.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said he expects orders to dip below deliveries in 2009 for the first time in six years.
Looking into a crystal ball in a press conference stunt, Chief Salesman John Leahy said he expects between 300 and 400 new aircraft orders, likely at the "low end" of that range.
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Airbus looks forward to delivery of A380

TOULOUSE, France — The worst day of John Leahy's life, Airbus' chief salesman says, was facing Singapore Airlines executives and telling them that the very first A380 superjumbo — already months behind schedule — would be delayed yet again.

"They just looked at me," said Leahy, the European plane maker's chief operating officer. "Fortunately, they were speechless."

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