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2006-10-13 Europe

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Posted by Steve White 2006-10-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Well the mayor has to say the government is going to bail them out, so no surprises there. This is a bit surprising though;

Merkel said the fact that Gallois was visiting the northern German city served as a symbol that the company considers its Hamburg plant to be an important one.

That's not what I'd think - I'd think that the plant is for the chop, especially when;

Many of the current production problems with the prestigious A380 super jumbo project have originated in Hamburg, and there is considerable fear that the plant could feel the brunt of any layoffs.

and

Meanwhile, back in Paris, Chirac told Merkel he believed that the pain of any possible job cuts at Airbus should be "harmoniously shared" by the French and Germans.

means that the necessary cuts are not going to be made on an economic basis, but rather to satisfy some national quotas, which just means that the underlying problem is not going to be sorted out and so we're bound to see more flying turkey pics over the next few months/years.

I'm not an aviation expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm sure Boeing will be watching developments very closely, looking for government prop-ups, which let's face it, are very likely to happen.

Posted by Tony (UK) 2006-10-13 00:22|| 2006-10-13 00:22|| Front Page Top

#2 This will be real interesting, especially since there is language inserted in the USAF tanker proposal that specifically talks about any sort of governmental subsidy. IIRC, the language was inserted at the request of PRO-Airbus congress-critters in an attempt to show no favoritism toward a domestic product.

Posted by USN,Ret 2006-10-13 00:40|| 2006-10-13 00:40|| Front Page Top

#3 Oh dear, the biter-bit!

Posted by Tony (UK) 2006-10-13 00:48|| 2006-10-13 00:48|| Front Page Top

#4 Wouldn't this also wind up in the WTO as unallowed subsidies?

I think you need to add a shotgun aiming at that turkey.

Posted by AlanC">AlanC 2006-10-13 09:25|| 2006-10-13 09:25|| Front Page Top

#5 Why don't they take the wings off of the 380's and make them the worlds's biggest busses?

Posted by tu3031 2006-10-13 10:31|| 2006-10-13 10:31|| Front Page Top

#6 Boeing is already kicking the crap out of Airbus and laughing all the way to the bank.

Airbus is finished as a big plane company.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2006-10-13 10:50|| 2006-10-13 10:50|| Front Page Top

#7 As it was with the Titanic, it's about time for the band to strike up "Nearer My God To Thee".

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-10-13 11:23|| 2006-10-13 11:23|| Front Page Top

#8 Don't count Airbus out yet. Airbus is supported by France and Germany, who use it for a jobs program. While the $13 billion already spent on the A-380 may sink a commerical company, Airbus does not have to pay the money back unless they make a profit on the A-380.

While Airbus doesn't have the cash flow to develop 787 and next gen 737 competitors, French and German taxpayers do; WTO agreements be damned. The only question is how late the projects will be from the A-380 sucking all the manpower.

Posted by ed 2006-10-13 11:35|| 2006-10-13 11:35|| Front Page Top

#9 The boys at Boeing may be anal retentive managers and clueless at marketing (i.e. Darleen Druyun), but they are the only company that truly knows how to profitably and reliably build big airplanes. Even Northrop had to import a Boeing management team to get the B-2 build back on track. Given a choice, I try to avoid the lesser breeds of commercial aircraft. Airbus is just another EU welfare scheme.

Posted by RWV 2006-10-13 11:42|| 2006-10-13 11:42|| Front Page Top

#10 Emirates warns on Airbus delays
Airline Emirates has warned that it may cancel some of its order for 45 giant Airbus A380 planes if there are any further delays to the troubled project.
...
Separately, UK airline Virgin Atlantic said it had sent Airbus a new set of proposals relating to its order for six of the 555-seater A380 superjumbos.

Emirates has 30% of all A-380 orders and just ordered 10 of the new 747-800 freighters. Guess they couldn't wait any longer for the A-380s.

Posted by ed 2006-10-13 11:45|| 2006-10-13 11:45|| Front Page Top

#11 Airbus isn't finished as a company ed, just as a big plane builder. They still have a good market share for mid to small commercial jets.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2006-10-13 11:55|| 2006-10-13 11:55|| Front Page Top

#12 It's the mid size market (777, 787, A-330, A-340) where Airbus is getting absolutely creamed. The small A-320 is doing quite well and is their only profitable line. For example, so far this year Airbus has 226 orders (Boeing 736) but only 36 are wide-bodies (A-330 and above).

Posted by ed 2006-10-13 12:11|| 2006-10-13 12:11|| Front Page Top

#13 On Boeing's website this morning: Singapore Airlines signed up for several (10 i think) with additional options for 787-9s, and they aren't even going to get them until 2011 timeframe. What does that say about the A350? (It's dead, Jim)

Posted by USN, ret. 2006-10-13 14:00|| 2006-10-13 14:00|| Front Page Top

23:58 Zenster
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