EADS co-chief Noel Forgeard spoke to reporters in Paris today http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20060109&ID=5400697 and said all kinds of interesting things.
Key Quote 1: “Forgeard said Boeing’s resurgence was among ‘areas of concern’ facing Airbus. He singled out sales of the Boeing 777, which he said had overtaken those of the rival A340 last year. He did not elaborate on order figures. … ‘We must not take our eyes off the return of Boeing … ‘It’s a strong return, particularly on sales, with some very aggressive tactics.’”
Key Quote 2: “Forgeard … also suggested that orders for the Airbus A350 — designed to rival Boeing’s long-range, fuel-efficient 787 Dreamliner — had fallen short of the target of 200 at the end of 2005. The number sold was ‘within 10 or 15 percent’ of that goal, he said.”
And a line that’ll no doubt get the attention of everyone down in Renton (as well as our friend Scott Hamilton) …
Key Quote 3: “The EADS boss also announced that Airbus is researching ways to manufacture low-cost composite airframes for a new generation of medium-range planes to replace the single-aisle A320 family. Forgeard declined to say when the introduction of the new planes was planned but described the composite research as ‘a challenge for 2008-2009.’”
Boeing, as you may know, has been dropping hints about a (presumably all-composite) 737 replacement in the 2010-12 range.
British financial news service AFP also has a story on Forgeard’s comments http://www.todayonline.com/articles/94213.asp
Key Quote, from Forgeard: “‘Today we are actively preparing the launch — at a date I’m not going to reveal — of new generations of medium-range aircraft with fuselages that are mostly made out of composite materials with very low-cost production.’”
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