19 November 2009

Airbus today wrapped up a high-profile participation in the 2009 Dubai Airshow, where two new airlines were added to its firm order book with signings for A380s and A350s, an existing VVIP charter operator ordered a 10th Airbus corporate jet, and three additional customers announced memorandum of understanding agreements for A330s and A320s.

Another milestone at this biennial event was Airbus' launch of new-generation "Sharklets" wingtip devices for the A320 Family - its latest new enhancement that will maintain the single-aisle jetliner product line's competiveness for many years.

This activity came as Airbus reinforces its presence in the dynamic Middle East market, where operators currently are flying a full range of the company's aircraft from the A320 single-aisle jetliner family to the 21st century A380 flagship. Airbus' Middle East market share has grown from 10 per cent in 1985 to 49 per cent today.

Additionally, the global industrial base for Airbus has now been extended to the United Arab Emirates, with Abu Dhabi's Mubadala assigned the fabrication and assembly of composite components, and Emirates Precision Engineering responsible for the machining of metallic parts. This work has an estimated value of approximately $1 billion over a timeframe of 10 years.

Airbus' new firm orders inked at the Dubai Airshow were for Air Austral's two A380s, which will be operated from the Indian Ocean's La Reunion island to Paris in an 840-seat single-class configuration; and for Ethiopian Airlines' 12 A350-900s, bringing total sales of the A350 XWB aircraft family to 505.

Also announced was an order from Comlux for a third Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), making this Swiss-based operator the largest Airbus ACJ Family customer.

A Comlux A318 Elite configured for VVIP charters was displayed during the five-day Dubai Airshow, along with an Airbus prototype A380 - which made its appearance as part of a multi-stop international demonstration tour.

For more stories and news from the 2009 Dubai Air Show, see the dedicated mini-website.

16 November 2009

In an update provided during the Dubai Airshow, President and CEO Tom Enders said Airbus expects to at least match its record annual delivery volume in 2009, with a total of between 200 and 300 new orders anticipated this year.

5 November 2009

Airbus has launched a 180-hour flight test and certification campaign for its A330-200F, which will lead to the startup of deliveries for this new-generation, mid-size freighter in the summer of 2010.

30 October 2009

The 20th A380 provided to international customers of this 21st century flagship jetliner is received by the French-based global carrier during a ceremony at Airbus' Hamburg, Germany delivery centre.

23 October 2009

Two specially-configured A318s are making business travel more comfortable and convenient for passengers flying between London City and JFK International Airport.

19 October 2009

International tours of the A380 in October and November are bringing the 21st century Airbus jetliner to the locations of current customers, potential future operators and to airports that have not previously been visited by the aircraft.

16 October 2009

Airline representatives and other industry executives assembled in Toulouse, France for the first Airbus Communications Symposium, which focused on air transportation and the global environment.

12 October 2009

A Qatar Airways A340-600 completes a milestone long-range flight powered by fuel made from natural gas, opening the door for the large-scale launch of synthetic fuels for airlines.

30 September 2009

Customers who attended Airbus' recent A330-200F progress review in Toulouse, France praised the rapid advancement of the freighter, which is on schedule for its first flight in November.

17 September 2009

According to its latest Global Market Forecast, Airbus expects airline traffic worldwide to more than double between 2009 and 2028 - requiring some 25,000 new aircraft to meet this growing demand.