Things to watch at Airbus

Airbus Group NV has shed light on where some of the European plane maker’s major multibillion-dollar aircraft programs are headed just a month before the Farnborough air show, the biennial gathering of aerospace executives outside London.                                                  

The decisions will have an impact on how airlines revamp their fleets, the product strategy at rival Boeing Co. and the operations of aerospace suppliers world-wide. 

NEW ENGINES FOR THE A330

Using the Farnborough air show to launch an upgrade to Airbus’s long-range twin-aisle jet had seemed on the cards. But now sales chief John Leahy says that’s not guaranteed, raising eyebrows even internally. Airbus is trying to sort out whether the cost of upgrading the plane with new engines so it competes better with Boeing’s new Dreamliner would offset relatively low maintenance costs on the current version.

A350 WEIGHT WATCHING

New planes share a common problem. They almost always weigh more than planned. Airbus’s newest plane, the A350-900 long-range jet due for delivery before year-end, is no different. The plane has an empty weight of around 119 metric tons, or 3.3 tons above target. Airbus is confident it can find savings without sacrificing the aircraft’s launch schedule.

NEW ENGINES FOR THE A320

Airbus in September is planning to flight test a major upgrade of its best-selling A320 single-aisle plane with new Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines. The powerplant is similar to one that suffered a major failure during ground trials on a Bombardier Inc. CSeries jetliner, halting the flight test program and keeping the plane from the Farnborough show. Airbus is in “intense discussions” with the engine maker but remains confident its plans won’t be affected.


THE FUTURE OF THE A380

Airbus has struggled to find new buyers beyond the 20 signed up for the A380 super-jumbo. Any new orders will likely be top-ups from existing buyers. Airbus is looking at modest ways to rejig the aircraft, including refining cabin layouts to add 30 to 50 seats, perhaps with an 11-abreast configuration. Emirates Airline, which has ordered 140 of 324 sold in aggregate, has urged Airbus to upgrade the A380’s engines. Airbus hasn’t ruled that out but hasn’t said it will consider it either.


ATR TURBROPROPS — BIG ENOUGH

Airbus and Italy’s Finmeccancia SpA jointly own ATR, the leading supplier of propeller-driven passenger planes. ATR officials have explored building a 90-seat aircraft to add to its 50-seat to 70-seat range . Airbus Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier reckons that this is “not the priority.” After all, ATR dominates the segment with its existing products.

From WSJ