19 June 2007

Airbus press conference

After a day filled with successive announcements of new orders, Airbus President and CEO, Louis Gallois opened the traditional press conference with a simple but strong statement: “I can tell you with full confidence that Airbus is back,” he declared before introducing the new management present on stage.

Louis Gallois bases his positive outlook on several key factors: A350 development is on track as is Power 8. “We’ll achieve our 2007 target of 300 million euros savings, we have already done more than half,” said Louis Gallois.

The next steps are the reduction of overheads, the re-organisation and the sale or partnership for six of the sites. “Airbus will be a fully integrated organisation with priority given to operational activities,” he said.

The A380 is back on track and has received new orders not related to the settlement of delays. “The aeroplane is outstanding, its aeronautical qualities are exceptional, its performance targets are achieved. This is the cleanest, greenest aeroplane and it is 20 years ahead of the average world fleet in terms of noise and emission,” he said.

Airbus is working actively to answer customers’ concern about environmental issues: “We have to demonstrate every day that we are an eco-efficient industry. We have shown the way with the A380, we will do it with the A350 and it will be one of the biggest challenges of the A320’s eventual successor,” said Louis Gallois.

Finally, Louis Gallois stressed that Airbus would become more and more global in what is essentially a global industry by working with the Russians, the Chinese and the Indians. “Globalisation is mandatory in our business. We will build a network of partners in Europe but we will go also in America, Asia and Russia,” he said.