22 April 2008

Speaking at the third Aviation and Environment Summit in Geneva, Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders argued that the real benefits of aviation, particularly for emerging countries, outweigh any damaging effects.

"We need to start highlighting that aviation's contribution to this planet is much bigger than just our carbon output," he explained.

"Even if you go to the extreme and if all flights were stopped, the world would only save two per cent [of global CO2 emissions]. By stopping flights we also stop progress: poorer nations would be denied the single most important catalyst for economic and social development," he said.

While acknowledging that aviation's contribution to global manmade CO2 emissions must be reduced, Tom Enders said that the industry has long been focused on this goal.

"We are actually one of the industries that has been working on this for many years," he said. "Not only because of global warning, but because of sheer efficiency. Less fuel burn means less costs and obviously less emissions."

And in order to further tackle emissions, aviation needs to be pioneering in its approach to future technology, he stressed. Current industry research projects into alternative power sources such as fuel cells and GTL demonstrate a clear commitment to this.

"We as aircraft manufacturers need to concentrate our resources on achieving a significant step change," he said.

He added that aircraft needed not simply to be more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, they also should be manufactured and maintained in an eco-efficient way throughout their lifecycle.

Tom Enders also identified other ways of reducing emissions, including improvements to airline operating procedures and air traffic control systems, along with the replacement of fuel inefficient fleets.

Pointing out that thousands of old and mid-generation aircraft still operate today, he called on governments to provide incentives for airlines to upgrade their fleet to much more efficient models.

He concluded that for the aviation industry to tackle the long-term challenges of reducing its emissions it needed to unite. "It's technology but it's also tactics, it's teamwork. We must show that technology and innovation can provide the solutions," he stressed. "Particularly if we work together - across borders, across continents and between competitors, as we do. We are united to tackle this big challenge."

17 April 2008

At the China Eco-efficiency Conference in Beijing, Airbus called on the Chinese aviation market to join in the continued efforts to make aviation a "green" industry. The appeal was well-received from government officials and airline executives present at the conference, who pledged to support Airbus' initiatives.

3 April 2008

The growing role of Airbus in Latin America was underscored by the company's high-profile presence at Chile's FIDAE 2008 air show. Its participation included the first ever appearance of an A380 in the country.

18 March 2008

A380 commercial operations have expanded to Europe, with Singapore Airlines performing its first revenue flight to London's Heathrow Airport. Singapore Airlines has been operating regularly-scheduled service to Sydney using two A380s, and added the U.K. route after recently receiving its third aircraft from Airbus.

7 March 2008

Airbus' first major industrial centre in the United States will assemble KC-45A refuelling aircraft for supply to the U.S. Air Force by Northrop Grumman. This new facility also will build Airbus' civilian A330-200 Freighter.

Watch the video with Tom Enders, who discusses the U.S. Air Force's KC-45 Tanker selection.

5 March 2008

A multi-year competition has led to the selection of Northrop-Grumman's KC-45A tanker, an A330-based aerial tanker for the U.S. Air Force's new in-flight refueling aircraft. This military platform will be built at a new final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, which also will be responsible for assembling the Airbus A330-200 Freighter.

20 February 2008

Speaking to reporters at the Singapore Air Show, Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders said growing Asian-Pacific passenger volume - plus the concentration of flights at key hub cities - will create a continued demand for jetliners in the A350 and A380 size categories. Asia currently accounts for one-third of Airbus' overall backlog of some 3,600 aircraft.

1 February 2008

Airbus continues to lead the industry in environmental research and in doing so, has conducted a flight test using gas to liquid kerosene. Current commercial aircraft fly with oil-derived jet fuel, but this product - synthesized through the Fischer-Tropsch process - has the advantage of being cleaner, which will result in lower emissions.

16 January 2008

Airbus will build on its record commercial results of 2007, continuing the unprecedented production ramp-up this year and further expanding the company's large backlog with new orders for both its single-aisle and widebody product lines.

11 December 2007

Argentina and Brazil have welcomed the A380 on its first visits to these two countries. Arriving from successful maturity and operability trials with Qantas in Australia, the A380 was greeted by enthusiastic crowds during stopovers in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.