Battleangel

Airbus claimed victory in the battle of the Paris Air Show yesterday, dealing a blow to Boeing’s hopes of regaining the lead in commercial jet sales for the first time in five years.

Airbus is believed to have won orders for 320 aircraft worth $33.5billion, with Boeing’s sales so far announced around $16billion. They have fuelled upbeat forecasts for an industry clambering its way out of recession, with the help of emerging aviation powers including India and China.

Airbus sales chief John Leahy suggested the European company would retain its lead in new orders over Boeing this year. “We outsold them in every year since 2000 and intend to do so this year,” he said.”

Source: Telegraph

And this is still given the extortionist methods and strongarming that the US is doing on behalf of Boeing. Not to mention the untraceable funds being secretly poured into the company each year. Expect more whining from the US on this topic. If you can’t compete, drag them to court, that is how this thing works, isn’t it? Even Iraq is going Airbus, but will they be allowed to?

Or even better, introduce a stupid bill that will single out the latest Airbus model and force them to install missile defence measures.

A senior Republican has introduced legislation in the US Congress that would force Airbus to install technology on its A380 aircraft to counter the threat from shoulder-fired missiles.

John Mica, Republican chairman of the House aviation sub-committee, last week introduced the bill, which would require aircraft that carry more than 800 passengers to install technology to combat Manpad (man-portable air defence systems) threats such as Stinger missiles.

Source: Financial Times

And again, the only plane in dev that carries more than 800 passengers is the A380. What a .. coincidence. Furthermore …

The move comes as the European Union and US are involved in a dispute over subsides received by both Boeing and Airbus. It also comes on the heels of House-approved defence legislation that would prevent European Aeronautic Defence and Space, Airbus’s parent company, from bidding for a Pentagon contract to supply the air force with air refuelling tankers while the US and EU are embroiled in the World Trade Organisation dispute.

But what did you expect? Falling back on international agreements and outlines without some cloak and dagger tactics? It seems we are back at the central problem of the conflict between Boeing and Airbus. One side declares openly what their policies are and the other keeps half the deck up their sleeve.