The A350 looks real good across the pond

In Wales, where Airbus will produce the wings for the A350, the decision to launch the new jet — with or without government loans — was good news, The Daily Post saidhttp://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/tm_objectid=16219668&method=full&siteid=50142&headline=our-pride-as-airbus-flies-solo—name_page.html in its editorial pages.

Key Quote: “Good luck, Airbus – and never mind what Boeing say, it is vital that research and development is properly supported to ensure the success of these new jets.”

And here’s a report from The Western Mail http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=16218987&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=thousands-of-jobs-safer—-with-wales-airbus-deal-name_page.html, discussing the economic impact that building the wings for the new jet will have.

Key Quote: “Work on the new aircraft will help safeguard 6,500 jobs at Airbus’s Broughton plant. The A350 will also create 10,800 aerospace jobs, including work for Airbus’s suppliers. In the wider UK economy, work on the aircraft wings will create up to 21,600 jobs for everyone, from catering companies to taxi firms.”

An interesting thought — how many Snohomish County companies will get pieces of the A350?

This BBC report http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4313026.stm follows much of the same vein — building the wings in Britain will create new jobs.

Key Quote: “The wings for the A350 will be built at Airbus UK’s sites at Broughton and Filton. The two plants currently employ 13,000 staff, but Airbus said more could be created depending on orders.”

And here’s the report from The Times of London http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9077-1814685,00.html, which gave Boeing Blogger-in-chief Randy Baseler a chance to poo-poo the A350.

Key Quote: “Randy Baseler, Boeing’s vice-president of marketing, said: ‘It’s surprising that it’s taken Airbus so long to react to the Dreamliner, which will be more economic and provide better comfort levels than the A350.’”