AIRBUS LAUNCHES 21st CENTURY A380 JETLINER

At a Supervisory Board meeting held in Toulouse today, the Airbus shareholders - EADS and BAE SYSTEMS - officially approved the launch of the A380, formerly known as the A3XX. This decision heralds a new era in the history of flight, with the introduction into service of the world’s 21st century jetliner in early 2006.

Totalling 50 orders and 42 options from six world-renowned customers spread across five continents (Air France, Emirates, International Lease Finance Corporation, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic), Airbus’ launch base for the A380 meets the criteria set by the company’s shareholders when they agreed to the commercial launch of the programme only six months ago.

Commenting on the decision, Airbus Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Manfred Bischoff said: “Airbus has a new flagship. This is a major breakthrough for Airbus as a full range competitor on world markets. We are convinced that this aircraft will have a bright and extremely successful future. It will be proof of the outstanding capabilities and skills of Europe’s aerospace industry and represents a completely new generation of technology in the field of aircraft manufacturing and air travel. I am personally very proud and happy to give the go-ahead for a project that I fought for since 1989”.

Airbus Chief Executive Officer, Noël Forgeard, added that Airbus was delighted to have met the launch criteria so quickly. “This decision crowns the efforts of all those who have worked so hard on the project for the last four years, and in particular the 20 airlines and 50 airports, the Airworthiness Authorities, engine manufacturers, suppliers, industrial partners, and, not least, our shareholders and all the Airbus staff, whose dedication helped shape the programme and bring it to fruition. I would like to thank them all heartily, and to extend my warmest congratulations to our six launch customers. We are now fully committed to delivering on all counts, and very much look forward to continuing our collaboration with those concerned, and, of course, with many newcomers in the years to come.”

The A380 will offer all the advantages of a completely new design while retaining commonality with the existing Airbus aircraft family. Built to the latest and most stringent certification requirements, the A380 will embody the most advanced technologies, providing 15 to 20 per cent lower operating costs than the largest aircraft flying today, 10 to 15 per cent more range, and, with the most spacious cabin, 35 per cent more seating and 49 per cent more available floor space.

Detailed design and manufacture of the A380 relies on Airbus centres of excellence around Europe, as well as on industrial partnerships with – so far – nine world-class companies. Airbus has also signed agreements with Rolls-Royce and The Engine Alliance (a joint venture between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney) for the development of the A380’s engines.

Complete aircraft sections manufactured in France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom will be delivered to Toulouse, France, for structural assembly, final equipping (including engine installation) and production test flights. An appropriate surface transportation system has been selected for this portion of the assembly process. The aircraft will then fly to Hamburg, Germany, for cabin furnishing, cabin systems installation, customisation and painting. Deliveries to customers in Europe and the Middle East will be made from Hamburg, while all other customers will take delivery of their aircraft from Toulouse.

Several European governments have indicated their intention to invest in the A380 programme. Government commitments are expected to follow the signature on industrial agreements in 2001.