* Swiss solar-powered plane rolled out Nov 8, 2009
The ultralight single seater with the wingspan of an Airbus A380 airliner is being prepared for a maiden flight over the coming weeks when weather conditions allow. Solar Impulse staff said the slender craft, which only weighs as much as a medium-sized car (1,600kg), needs particularly clear conditions and less than a light breeze (three knots) for its first excursion in the air. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Pioneering Swiss solar-powered plane rolled out Nov 7, 2009
The ultralight single seater with the wingspan of an Airbus A380 airliner is being prepared for a maiden flight over the coming weeks when weather conditions allow. Solar Impulse staff said the slender craft, which only weighs as much as a medium-sized car (1,600 kilogrammes, 3,527 pounds), needs particularly clear conditions and less than a light breeze (three knots) for its first excursion in the air. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Qantas Sydney-Los Angeles Flight Diverted to Melbourne on Fault, ABC Says Nov 7, 2009
The Airbus SAS A380 aircraft, which was carrying 329 passengers, diverted to Melbourne, the ABC reported. Last Updated: November 6, 2009 18:26 EST. (Bloomberg -- Australia & New Zealand)
British Airways Traffic, Prices Stabilize After Record Loss; Shares Rally Nov 7, 2009
British Airways, which plans to further delay delivery of its first Airbus SAS A380 superjumbo to defer costs, advanced 12 ... The airlines first Airbus A380 will now join the fleet in 2013, it said today. (Bloomberg -- UK)
Australia to outpace world in air traffic growth Nov 4, 2009
Of those, 1729 would be for so-called very large aircraft such as the A380, as long-haul traffic increases and as more mega cities emerge ... There will be a lot of opportunities to get on an A380 flight over the next 20 years, Mr Leahy said ... Three airlines - Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines and Emirates Airlines - currently operate the A380, with Air France to shortly start operating the aircraft after recently taking delivery of its first mega jumbo. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Rolls-Royce sees higher 09 sales Nov 3, 2009
Like other engine suppliers, Rolls-Royce has been affected by delays in production of two modern airliners, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787, crimping revenues from engine deliveries and prompting a build-up in inventory. The company, which split from the luxury car maker of the same name in 00004000 1971, said its order book continues to grow despite some minor cancellations and that it would continue to invest despite the economic downturn. (India Times)
Air France gets A380 Nov 2, 2009
Article By: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:07 Air France has become the first European airline to take delivery of the new Airbus A380 superjumbo passenger jet, which it says will make it great savings in tough economic times ... The director of Air France, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, told AFP that the A380 would enable it to save money by running fewer flights on long-haul routes ... "We will be able to use a plane that costs 20 percent less to run than the two others. In other words, we will save 15-million... (iAfrica.com)
Qantas Sees Encouraging Passenger Signs, No Signs World Economy to Falter Oct 21, 2009
Joyce plans to meet his cost-savings target with steps including cutting fuel usage by reducing taxi times, flying more direct routes and using new planes such as the Airbus SAS A380. He is also seeking to expand business-class amenities and the companys loyalty program to retain corporate customers, Qantas most profitable clients. (Bloomberg -- Australia & New Zealand)
$1 Billion Makeover Plan for LA Airport Approved Oct 20, 2009
The project involves demolishing the terminal and replacing it with two new concourses with nine gates that will handle jumbo jets such as the Airbus A380. Bond and airport money would pay for the expansion, with completion expected by 2013. (ABC News -- Wire)
Delivery of Qantas A380s delayed Oct 16, 2009
QANTAS will have to wait until December for the delivery of its next two Airbus A380s, after encountering flight stability problems with one of the jumbos, which had been expected to start flying on the US route next month ... However, Qantas dismissed talk that its number five A380 could not stay straight while on auto-pilot ... The latest delay follows one of two years Qantas had in receiving its first A380. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
Lufthansa Weighs Calyon, Doric Financing for Airplanes Worth $1.6 Billion Oct 15, 2009
Lufthansa Weighs Doric, Calyon to Fund A380s Worth $1 ... Lufthansa Weighs Doric, Calyon to Fund A380s Worth $1 ... Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- , Europes second-largest airline, has attracted Doric Asset Finance and Calyon as possible lenders to fund five Airbus SAS A380 planes valued at $1. (Bloomberg -- Germany)
Qantas Says Two Airbus A380 Deliveries Delayed on Flight-Control Systems Oct 15, 2009
Qantas Says Delivery of Two Airbus A380 Planes Will Be Delayed - Bloomberg ... Qantas Says Delivery of Two Airbus A380 Planes Will Be Delayed ... Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Australias biggest airline, said delivery of its fifth and sixth A380 aircraft has been delayed because of problems with flight- control equipment. (Bloomberg -- Germany)
Who Pays for Those Posh 1st Class Seats? Oct 8, 2009
Remember the Airbus A380 configuration with separate cabins and your own shower. Other airlines offered flat-bed seats, celebrity chefs and your very own butler. (ABC News)
Moog completes U.K. purchase Sep 30, 2009
The flight control actuation business, which designs and manufactures high-lift actuation systems for the Boeing 777 and 787 and the Airbus A330 and A380, is located in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom. General Electric bought the company in 2007 as part of its purchase of Smiths Aerospace. (Buffalo Business First, NY)
MAS sticks to its order for six A380s Sep 30, 2009
Airline expects A380s to be delivered in 2011. PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is not replacing its order of six Airbus A380 super jumbo aircraft for smaller wide-body aircraft, said chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Tengku Azmil Zahruddin ... A recent report in a local daily (not The Star) said MAS was considering swapping the A380 orders for smaller wide-body aircraft such as the A330 or A350 due to the decline in air traffic amid a prolonged world economic recovery. (The Star Online, Malaysia -- Business)
Airplanes, oxygen and the media Sep 26, 2009
"Airbus series aircraft, from the A320 through the much larger A380, do provide a way for pilots to vary airflow," says Dave English, an A320 captain. "But not in the way characterized by the Economist.". (Salon)
Former Qantas Worker Jailed for Terror Book Sep 25, 2009
Qantas Airbus A380 Tim Hales / Getty. MORE.. (Time.com)
Boeing finishes work on larger 747 Sep 21, 2009
Rival plane-maker Airbus dismisses the 747-8 as a derivative of an aging design, eclipsed by the European company's much bigger and all-new superjumbo, the A380, already in service with three major global airlines. But Boeing executives see a product gap between the 525-seat A380 and Airbus' proposed 350-seat A350-1000, similar in size to Boeing's 777 and due in 2015 ... Merluzeau said some carriers will hold off on buying the massive A380 because only the biggest airports can handle it, whereas... (Honolulu Advertiser)
Airlines filling more seats in business class Sep 19, 2009
A view of business class seating inside the Airbus A380 parked outside hangar 19 at JFK International Airport in New York March 19, 2007. 3032075180. (MSNBC -- Travel)
A Philosophy of Writers Block Sep 19, 2009
The A380 has no alternative but to go into a holding pattern, until a landing path is cleared. Similarly, with creative writing, creativity techniques must always be aimed at removing these nuisance barriers. (Suite101.com)
Airbus Single-Aisle Model Delay Risks Opening Flank to Chinese, Canadians Sep 19, 2009
Delays to Airbuss A380 superjumbo and Boeings 787 Dreamliner have distracted the two largest planemakers and drained resources. Thats helping companies from China, Canada, Japan and Brazil attack the duopoly that Boeing and Airbus have held for decades in the segment that accounts for about 60 percent of the total market. (Bloomberg -- Canada)
Boeing's 787 delays force supplier to cut jobs Sep 17, 2009
Latecoere last year appealed to Airbus for financial support over production delays on the A380 superjumbo. French electronics firm Thales threatened earlier this year to seek compensation from Airbus parent EADS over delays to its A400M military transport plane. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Bombardier's Hachey Sees More Customers for CSeries Aircraft by Year-End Sep 16, 2009
Airbuss double-decker A380, which began deliveries in 2007, is being produced at slower rates than originally planned; it will deliver only 14 jets this year rather than the 18 planned. Plane manufacturers are also facing challenges from a global economic recession that has left some airlines starved for cash. (Bloomberg -- Canada)
The Risks In Obama's Tire Tariff Sep 15, 2009
Boeing won something of a victory when the WTO in a 1,000-page report ruled that EU "launch aid" for the Airbus A380 and other planes constituted an illegal subsidy. Boeing is hoping that this will weigh heavily with Pentagon contractors when they evaluate bids for a $35 billion contract for new aerial refueling tankers -- a bid initially won by Airbus but overturned by government auditors for reasons unrelated to the subsidy issue. (CBS News)
Going with the floe: pilot's icy record Sep 12, 2009
On New Year's Eve he will set out on his 40th Antarctic flight since 1995 - this time commanding the first Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial jetliner - to fly tourists over the continent ... The first A380 Antarctic sightseeing flight, taking off from Sydney and Melbourne, will cover more than 9500 kilometres in 11 hours ... Phil Asker, the managing director of Antarctica Sightseeing Flights, which operates the tourist trips Captain Dennis flies, said that while a 747 carried about... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Airbus leads Boeing on new aircraft orders Sep 9, 2009
It has delivered 320 planes, including five A380 jets and 262 A320 jets, in the past eight months, according the Airbus statistics. For Boeing, it has taken orders for 161 planes, but with 91 cancellations including 73 787 Dreamliners currently under development, and the net order intake is 70 jets. (Xinhuanet, China)
Singapore Air Customers Wonder `Where Is Recession' on Packed A380 Planes Sep 8, 2009
Singapore Air A380 Customers Ask Where Is Recession (Update1) - Bloomberg ... Singapore Air A380 Customers Ask Where Is Recession (Update1) ... advantage as the only airline to fly the A380 to financial centers such as Hong Kong and Tokyo is helping it lure customers like Ong. (Bloomberg)
EU Plays Down WTO Ruling on Airbus Aid Sep 8, 2009
5 billion ($15bn) given by EU governments to Airbus in the form of loans for the development of the A380 and other aircraft constituted illegal subsidies. The loans date back as far as 1970. (BusinessWeek)
WTO Raps European Export Aid for Airbus: Sources Sep 7, 2009
At least one of four loans given by European governments to help fund the A380 superjumbo was cleared of being a banned export subsidy, but the rest were found illegal, sources said. Washington however lost a third claim: that the overall use of European loans was an invalid program of support in its own right, several sources familiar with the matter said. (ABC News -- Wire)
Air displays thrill huge crowd Sep 7, 2009
Star of the show was the Airbus A380, the world's largest commercial airliner, which took to the skies over Northern Ireland for the first time. Story Tools. (BBC News)
WTO Says Airbus Loans Illegal: U.S. Lawmakers Sep 6, 2009
Lawmakers from Washington state, where much of Boeing's production work is done, said the WTO agreed with the United States that European "launch aid loans" to help Airbus develop the A380 and other top-selling planes violated global rules. "I applaud the WTO's decision that government subsidies of Airbus are illegal," said Senator Maria Cantwell. (ABC News -- Wire)
Airplane trade ruling may reflect old truths Sep 6, 2009
FILE - The combo from file photos shows at top the first production model of the new Boeing 787 airplane being unveiled on July 8, 2007, at Boeing's assembly plant in Everett, Washington, and at bottom visitors having a look at the Airbus A380 air plane at the 4th Airport Days on Sept. 16. 2007 in Hamburg. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Thousands watch largest airliner Sep 6, 2009
The 525-seat Airbus A380 performed a fly-through at Edinburgh and Prestwick airports as part of a tour of the UK. ... The Airbus A380 performed an approach and go manoeuvre. (BBC News -- UK)
* WTO rules Airbus loans illegal: sources Sep 6, 2009
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday from Brussels that the WTO concluded that every launch-aid package given to Airbus for the development of its A380 double-decker long-range airliner was an illegal subsidy. But, rebutting part of the Journal report, the European source added that funds extended to Airbus for the A380 were not considered illegal in their totality. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Airbus A380 Loans Faulted by WTO in Biggest Dispute Before Trade Arbiter Sep 5, 2009
Airbus Loans Toward A380 Jumbo Faulted in WTO Ruling (Update1) - Bloomberg ... Airbus Loans Toward A380 Jumbo Faulted in WTO Ruling (Update1) ... The ruling, in a document more than 1,000 pages long, says Airbus got trade-distorting subsidies in the form of development loans from France, Germany, the U.K. and Spain at least on the A380 superjumbo, according to the people, who declined to be named because the judgment isnt public. (Bloomberg -- Europe)
A380 super-subsidised, WTO finds Sep 5, 2009
A380 super-subsidised ... A380 super-subsidised ... The ruling, in a document more than 1,000 pages long, says Airbus got trade-distorting subsidies in the form of development loans from France, Germany, the UK and Spain at least on the A380 superjumbo, according to the people, who declined to be named because the judgment isn't public. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
WTO makes initial ruling on Airbus-Boeing dispute Sep 5, 2009
The Journal, citing as its source a person familiar with the matter, said that launch aid packages for the giant A380 passenger jet had been ruled improper subsidies. The trade body is ruling on a U.S. complaint that asserted Airbus received an unfair boost from billions of dollars in financing to develop airplanes. (USA Today -- Money)
WTO rules on U.S.-EU dispute over Airbus subsidies Sep 5, 2009
The United States first brought the case to the WTO in 2004, alleging that the EU had provided billions of Euros in various forms of subsidies to Airbus, including so-called "launch aid" to its A380 and other major aircraft models, which violated WTO regulations. In the same year, the EU also brought a case against Airbus' American rival, Boeing, alleging that the U.S. government had funded the company illegally. (Xinhuanet, China)
Another Jobless Recovery Sep 5, 2009
The five year long dispute, which revolved around funding for the massive Airbus A380, could open the door for Boeing to contest future government aid for other planes. 1. (Slate)
WTO sides with Boeing against Airbus Sep 5, 2009
Pascal Rossignol / REUTERSAn Airbus A380 takes part in a flying display June 19 three days before the opening of the 48th Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget airport near Paris ... September 4: CNBC's Phil LeBeau reports that the World Trade Organization has ruled in favor of Boeing in their dispute with Airbus that government aid to Airbus for the A380 violated trade law. (MSNBC -- Business)
WTO ruling says Airbus gained from subsidies: sources Sep 5, 2009
An Airbus A380 super jumbo jet ... The Wall Street Journal reported Friday from Brussels that the WTO concluded that every launch-aid package given to Airbus for the development of its A380 double-decker long-range airliner was an illegal subsidy ... But, rebutting part of the Journal report, the European source added that funds extended to Airbus for the A380 "were not considered illegal in their totality". (Yahoo! Asia News)
Fight's Not Over for Airbus, Boeing Sep 5, 2009
the WTO concluded that the $4 billion in aid Airbus received from European governments for development of the A380 super-jumbo passenger jet constituted illegal subsidies. While the WTO is not authorized to impose sanctions against any government that it finds has violated international trade laws, the WTO ruling could empower the U.S. to levy tariffs either against Airbus or any other European imports equal to the amount of the improper subsidies. (BusinessWeek)
Singapore Airlines delays A380 deliveries Sep 4, 2009
Recession-hit Singapore Airlines has agreed with Airbus to defer the delivery of eight A380 superjumbo jetliners by six to 12 months. The airline, which posted its first quarterly loss in six years during the June quarter, already has nine A380s in operation with two more due for delivery in the current financial year. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
WTOs aircraft biz ruling today Sep 4, 2009
The three-member WTO panel is widely expected to agree with complainant Washington that the billions of euros in launch aid Airbus received to build the A380 and other top-selling planes was anti-competitive and violated trade laws. Their findings, to be distributed to US and European diplomats at about 1400 GMT, will set the markers for acceptable government funding in civil aviation and also colour trans-Atlantic relations at a sensitive time for the global economy and multilateral trade... (India Times)
Ruling on Airbus-Boeing Dispute Expected Friday Sep 4, 2009
TO GO WITH STORY BY BRADLEY S. KLAPPER - FILE - The combo from file pictures shows at top the first production model of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane being unveiled on July 8, 2007, at Boeing's assembly plant in Everett, Washington, and at bottom visitors having a look at the Airbus A380 air plane at the 4th Airport Days on Sept. 16. 2007 in Hamburg. (ABC News -- Wire)
Boeing CEO 'confident' in 787 flight schedule Sep 3, 2009
Speaking on a webcast of a Morgan Stanley conference, McNerney said Boeing and its chief rival, EADS unit Airbus, have been chastened by embarrassing production glitches for Boeing's 787 and the superjumbo Airbus A380 ... The A380 is being delivered to customers two years late due to wiring problems. (Crain's Chicago Business)
Africa: Continent's Airlines Ill-Prepared for World Cup [analysis] Aug 21, 2009
Further, Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg can now handle the new Airbus A380, 500-passenger carriers, clearing the way for the aircrafts' operators, such as Singapore Airlines and Emirates, to deploy the huge machines. The inaugural Airbus A380 flight landed at the airport in November 2006, to the applause of thousands of aviation enthusiasts. (allAfrica.com)
Qantas net profit drops 88% Aug 19, 2009
The effects of the economic crisis were compounded by protracted industrial action by Qantas engineers, the swine flu epidemic and costs associated with Qantas' introduction of new Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft. To counter the problems, the airline unveiled plans to cut costs by 1. (India Times)
Superjumbo coming to SA? Aug 17, 2009
Article By: Travel Industry Review Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:57 Air France plans to deploy its new Airbus A380 on the Johannesburg route early next year, making it the first airline to operate one of the superjumbo aircraft on a South African route. Air France recently took delivery of its first A380 ahead of its launch on the daily Paris Charles de Gaulle/New York-JFK route on November 23 ... The airline last week confirmed that it intends to deploy the A380 on the Paris/Johannesburg route, most... (iAfrica.com)
Boeing and Airbus: Trading blows Aug 14, 2009
The giant A380, which was made possible only by $3. 5 billion in launch aid from France, Germany, Spain and Britain, and was designed to kill off Boeing s 747, was about to be rolled out. (The Economist)
MIT researchers make carbon nanotubes without metal catalyst Aug 11, 2009
Steiner says the reason that planes like Airbus' A380 and Boeing's new 787 are made of only 40 percent composites and not 90 percent is because composites aren't strong enough for all parts of the craft. But if they were bolstered by nanotubes, then the planes could be made of more composites, which would make them lighter, and less expensive to fly because they wouldn't need as much fuel. (EurekAlert!)
Flight test: Emirates first-class suite Aug 8, 2009
Flight frequency Melbourne daily; an A380 flies daily on Sydney route ... The abundance of luxury on Emirates' A380 creates its own concerns. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Airbus delivers 288 aircraft this year Aug 8, 2009
PARIS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Plane maker Airbus said Friday that it has completed deliveries of 288 aircraft in the first seven months of 2009, including four A380 superjumbos, local media reported. The total number of orders during the period from January to July was 118, after cancellation or postponements. (Xinhuanet, China)
Budget airlines cruise in crisis Aug 6, 2009
Qantas has scrapped first-class service on several long-haul routes and is considering reducing the 72 business seats in its Airbus A380 superjumbo jets ... It has cut fares and capacity this year but will not crop the 60 business seats in its A380 planes. (Business Report, South Africa)
Giant particle collider fizzles, adding to mysteries of life Aug 5, 2009
At full strength, the energy stored in its superconducting magnets would equal that of an Airbus A380 flying at 450 miles an hour, and the proton beam itself could pierce 100 feet of solid copper ... At full strength, the energy stored in its superconducting magnets would equal that of an Airbus A380 flying at 450 miles an hour, and the proton beam itself could pierce 100 feet of solid copper. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
What crisis? Budget carriers thrive amid gloom Aug 5, 2009
Qantas has also scrapped first-class service on several long-haul routes and is considering reducing the 72 business seats in its Airbus A380 superjumbo jets ... It has cut fares and capacity this year but said it would not crop the 60 business seats in its A380 planes. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
BA posts $245M quarterly loss Aug 1, 2009
The delivery for its first Airbus A380 aircraft has been put off for about five months, with six more aircraft delayed by about two years, he said. The results released Friday show total revenue for the three-month period was down 12. (CNN -- World)
Rolls-Royce posts 16.5 pct rise in 1H profit Jul 30, 2009
5 percent rise in first-half results as delays to the new Airbus A380 and forthcoming Boeing 787 boosted demand for existing widebody airplanes already using the company's products ... The world's second-largest aircraft engine maker also said its order book increased despite a challenging external environment and the impact of delays in production of the Airbus A380, which are now being delivered to airlines, and Boeing 787, which hasn't flown yet. (OregonLive, OR -- Business)
Seven Current, Former EADS Executives Said to Face Fines in AMF's Probe Jul 29, 2009
The insider-trading probe centers on executives who sold shares before disclosure of a production delay on the Airbus A380, the worlds biggest passenger plane ... Only people that traded shares from March 2006 and were in a position to have information about A380 delays still face AMF fines, the people said. (Bloomberg -- Europe)
Advance ticket sales up 33 pct for EAA AirVenture Jul 26, 2009
AirVenture officials hope the WhiteKnightTwo and this year's high-powered lineup _ including the crew of the US Airways flight that crash-landed in the Hudson River and the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner _ help offset the recession blues ... An amateur photographer, he looks forward to taking pictures of the Airbus A380 and the WhiteKnightTwo. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Heavy-lifting muscle flies into Afghanistan Jul 15, 2009
With a 50-metre wingspan, it is slightly smaller than a civilian double-decker Airbus A380 aeroplane. But compared with the existing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules aircraft, which date back to the 1950s, it's a heavier duty machine. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
SIA to start superjumbo on Melbourne service Jul 15, 2009
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Thai Air Asks Airbus to Delay A380 Delivery Jul 10, 2009
BANGKOK -(Dow Jones)- Thai Airways International PCL (THAI.TH) Thursday said it has asked Airbus to delay the delivery of six A380 aircraft or allow a change to other models after Airbus rebuffed its efforts to cancel the order ... In a proposal sent to Airbus, the national carrier sought to change to other models such as the A350-1000, with delivery expected to start in 2018, or to delay delivery of the first A380 to late 2012 from 2011, Executive Chairman Wallop Bhukkanasut told reporters. (SmartMoney)
Ask the pilot Jul 10, 2009
An Airbus A380 takes part in a flying display before the 48th Paris Air Show on June 12, 2009 ... Then there's the double-decked A380, history's biggest and newest jetliner, now flying with Singapore, Emirates and Qantas ... All we know for sure of the A380 is that it's the ever conceived. (Salon)
Boeing agrees to buy 787 fuselage operation Jul 8, 2009
Airbus is counting on the new, much touted A380 superjumbo jet, while Boeing has focused on the faster, smaller 787. Both are aimed at the lucrative long haul international market. (San Francisco Business Times, CA)
