On Thursday, Airbus put in the air its first A330 Freighter, an airplane that could be the jet maker’s first to be assembled in the United States.
Airbus’ parent company, EADS, has said it will put an A330 Freighter assembly line in Alabama should it and partner Northrop Grumman win the U.S. Air Force’s tanker competition.
The A330-200 Freighter, Airbus’ attempt to compete with Boeing in the mid-sized cargo market, took off for its maiden voyage from Toulouse, France, on Thursday. The cargo jet flew for about four hours, triggering the start of a 180-hour flight test program.
“The A330-200F is the right aircraft at the right time,” said John Leahy, Airbus’ chief operating officer. “We are at the eve of a market recovery, and now is the time for airlines to prepare for future freight growth.”
Airbus has long been overshadowed by Boeing in the freight market. The Chicago-based Boeing says its freighters make up about 90 percent of the world’s cargo capacity. Boeing’s latest freighter, based off its 777 passenger jet, made its debut earlier this year.
Boeing is looking at offering the U.S. Air Force either a 777 tanker or a 767 tanker. The jet maker has said it could offer both.
EADS and Northrop will offer a tanker derived from Airbus’ A330. The duo plan to assemble the tanker in Mobile, Ala. Before the Air Force called off the last round of competition in 2008, EADS declared it also would put an A330 Freighter line in Alabama should it win the multi-billion dollar contest.
The Air Force released its draft requirements for its aerial refueling tanker in late September. Already the Pentagon has seen opposition from both sides to its draft.
Northrop and EADS claim the Air Force released pricing information to Boeing on their tanker when Boeing protested the Air Force’s initial award of the contract to Northrop and EADS. Government auditors sided with Boeing in the protest, leading the Air Force to cancel its contract with the pair. Air Force officials call the pricing information given to Boeing outdated and irrelevant to the new contest.
Boeing wants to see the Air Force include in the tanker contest a preliminary ruling by the World Trade Organization against Airbus over illegal subsidies. Airbus has a counter claim pending with the WTO. The Air Force has said it won’t consider the preliminary ruling.
Regardless of the tanker contest, Boeing and Airbus will continue to battle in the commercial realm for a growing cargo business. Airbus estimates that the world will need 3,400 freighters over the next 20 years with 1,600 of those in the mid-size market.
Airbus plans to deliver its first A330 Freighter next summer to Ethiad Crystal Cargo. India’s Flyington Freighters originally was scheduled to take the first freighter but has rescheduled its deliveries due to the global market downturn.
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