EADS - A3XX bereit zum Abheben - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[Gatsby2]

Nachdem 44 Orders von Gesellschaften aus allen drei wichtigen Allianzen vorliegen, sind die internen Kritierien fuer den Bau der A3XX erfuellt. Nach Ansicht des CEO kann die Sache damit den Aktionaeren zur Zustimmung vorgelegt werden. Orders von Virgin, British Airways und Lufthansa werden fuer die naechste Zukunft ebenfalls erwartet. Das duerfte der Aktie demnaechst einen netten Schub nach oben verleihen.

Friday December 1, 10:16 am Eastern Time

Airbus Superjumbo Ready for Launch

By CLAR NI CHONGHAILE
Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) -- Airbus Industrie`s ambitious project to build the world`s largest passenger plane
is ready to be officially launched before the end of the year, the company`s chief executive said in an interview published Friday.

Noel Forgeard told the French daily Le Monde that with 44 firm orders in hand, the company was now ready to ask its
shareholders to give the A3XX superjumbo project the green light.

His comments came just days after Airbus, which is based in Toulouse, France, clinched its biggest order yet for the mammoth
plane. Qantas Airlines Ltd., a client of rival Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) for more than 40 years, said it had ordered 12 Airbus
superjumbos -- luxury 555-seat planes which will be equipped with bars, gyms and even casinos.

``From my point of view, we have now fulfilled all the criteria fixed by our shareholders for the A3XX launch,`` Forgeard was
quoted as saying in Le Monde.

Airbus is owned jointly by the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co., which holds 80 percent, and Britain`s BAe Systems
PLC, with 20 percent.

Forgeard said the project was ready to be launched before the end of the year, but added the decision would be made by the
shareholders.

``My mission is complete, even if I am expecting more orders in the short-term,`` he said, adding that Airbus is in talks with
Britain`s Virgin Atlantic Airways and British Airways, Germany`s Lufthansa AG and Hong Kong`s Cathay Pacific.

He said the company needed a quick thumbs-up to be able to receive the first sections of the giant plane in Toulouse by 2003, and
to conduct the first flight at the end of 2004.

The first A3XXs will be delivered in 2006, a little later than originally forecast because more work was needed to reduce the noise
level to conform with stricter regulations at Heathrow Airport in London.

Originally, Airbus had said it would need to secure around 50 orders before going ahead with the $12 billion project.

But Forgeard told Le Monde that the figure was purely indicative, and said it was ``very probable`` the target would be reached ``in
the next few days.``

``To launch the plane, our priority is to build a portfolio of launch clients who will set off a chain reaction across global air travel.
That is now done,`` he said.

Singapore Airlines has ordered 10 of the superjumbos, as has Air France. Emirates Airlines has ordered seven and the
International Lease Finance Corporation has ordered five.

Forgeard said Airbus now had clients in the three major global airline alliances -- Wings through Air France, Oneworld with
Qantas and Star Alliance with Singapore Airlines.

Analysts say such links are key. ``You can imagine that the other members of Oneworld will have the same strategy,`` said
Philippe Gossard, an airlines analyst at Credit Lyonnais in Paris.

The Qantas deal was a double victory for Airbus. Not only did it give the A3XX project a crucial boost, it was also a blow to the
European firm`s main competitor. The A3XX project is a direct challenge to the dominance of Boeing`s 747 jumbo in the
long-range, high capacity market.

Boeing argues that airlines are more interested in smaller, more efficient planes that have the range to bypass major hubs on their
way to secondary cities.

But despite its skepticism, the Seattle-based Boeing is still planning a longer version of the 747, the 747X Stretch, which will seat
up to 520 passengers.

[Gatsby2]

Na wie nett: Boeing moechte also ueber den Superjumbo keinen Preiskrieg mit Airbus fuehren.
Klingt ja recht fair, aber was ist denn der Hintergrund? Airbus hat bis jetzt zu den bei
der Einfuehrung neuer Modelle branchenueblichen Subskriptionsrabatten 44 Maschinen verkauft -
Boeing noch keine. Oder will Boeing nur die Ausweitung der gegenseitigen Anschuldigungen bei
der WTO vermeiden?

Und warum lassen sie das eigentlich in Indien verkuenden? Ist das schon die Vorabentschuldigung
dafuer, dass Air India eventuell auch A3XX bestellen koennte?


Friday December 1 8:23 AM ET
Boeing: No Price War with Airbus

By Aparna Kalra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The head of Boeing India (NYSE:BA - news) said
the Seattle-based aircraft maker would not enter into a price war with its
European rival Airbus Industrie ARBU.UL over superjumbo aircraft.

Suvendoo Ray, president of Boeing India, also said that Airbus would be unable
to go into commercial production of the superjumbo A3XX at the price it is
offering the aircraft.

``We`re not going to compete on the price war situation. Airbus can`t go into
commercial production of the superjumbo with the kind of introductory price
which it is offering,`` he told Reuters on the sidelines of an airline industry
meeting on Thursday.

A representative of rival Airbus Industrie ARBU.UL, which earlier this week
won the biggest order so far for the as-yet-unlaunched A3XX from Australia`s
Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX), would not comment on pricing.

The A3XX has a catalog price of $230 million, although airliner discounts are
routine, especially on launch orders.

Boeing has previously accused Airbus of selling the plane at a loss, and the European firm has rejected the
accusation.

But Airbus vice president for sales for India and Africa Kiran Rao reiterated earlier statements by the company
that it is set to start commercial production of the 555-seater.

``We`re just four (aircraft) short of the target we set ourselves. Commercial production of the A3XX will begin
soon,`` said Rao, who shared a platform with the Boeing official.

Airbus has variously said it needs 40 to 50 orders before committing the plane to production. Qantas took the tally
to 44 and Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard said afterwards the order put the firm in a position to launch
production.

Not Direct Competitors

Boeing is offering the 747X and its longer derivative, the 747X Stretch, as the closest products to the A3XX, but
not as direct competitors. The 747X would have more range but only 430 seats, while the 747X Stretch offers 520
seats, still fewer than the A3XX`s 555 seats, and less range.

Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI), Dubai carrier Emirates, Air France (AIRF.PA) and American International Group
(NYSE:AIG - news) unit ILFC have signed for the twin-aisle, twin-deck Airbus. Qantas bought 12.

Airbus is a partnership of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co NV(EAD.DE)(EAD.PA) and Britain`s
BAE Systems Plc(BA.L).

[Gatsby2]

Noch mehr Nachrichten - es muessen ja nicht immer nur Flugzeuge sein:

EADS erhält Millionenauftrag der
brasilianischen Bundespolizei zur
Durchsetzung des Umweltprogrammes

Friedrichshafen/Brasilia, 27. November 2000
Das größte Umweltprogramm in Südamerika - Schutz der Amazonasregionen -
soll nun durchgesetzt werden. Deshalb will Brasilien mit dem Projekt
PROAMATEC (Präsenzstärkung der Bundespolizei) seine Polizeibehörden auf
den neuesten Stand der Technik bringen. Hierfür haben die beiden Partnerfirmen
EADS Deutschland GmbH und Thomson-CSF/Paris, im Namen der brasilianischen
Bundesregierung, von dem staatlichen französischen Unternehmen "Sofremi"
den Auftrag (Gesamtvolumen 425 Mio. US Dollar) erhalten. Die Dornier GmbH,
eine Konzerngesellschaft der EADS, wird den deutschen Anteil der Programme
durchführen. Dies teilte die Dornier GmbH am Montag in Friedrichshafen mit.
Dr. Stefan Zoller, Vorstandsvorsitzender der Dornier GmbH und Leiter der EADS
Business Unit Defence Electronics and Telecommunications: "Wir sind froh dass
die Gespräche und Verhandlungen auf Regierungsebene zwischen Brasilien,
Frankreich und Deutschland das Amazonas-Projekt nun voranbringen. Vor allem
freuen wir uns über diesen Erfolg, weil jetzt die einmalige Gelegenheit besteht
das technische Know-how und unsere Systemfähigkeit in der Aufklärungs- und
Informationstechnik großräumig einzusetzen."
Hauptziele von PROAMATEC sind die Verbesserung der Überwachungs- und
Informationssysteme zwischen den Polizeistellen, die Einführung neuer
Kontrollsysteme zur Identifizierung und moderner Bekämpfungsmethoden gegen
das organisierte Verbrechen, die Beschaffung besserer Polizei-transportmittel
(Luft, Wasser, Land) sowie verstärkte Ausbildung und Aufstockung der
Bundespolizei. Bedingt durch die Größe des Landes ist es nicht möglich die
leistungsstärksten Mittel über das ganze Land zu verteilen, sondern diese zu
konzentrieren und je nach Bedarf abzurufen. Die Projekt-Hauptbereiche
untergliedern sich in: Telekommunikationssysteme, Erkennungs- und
Identifikationssysteme, wissenschaftliche Untersuchungslabore,
Polizeitransportmittel wie Flugzeuge, Hubschrauber, schnelle Boote,
Informationstechnologie, Aufklärungs- und Führungssysteme,
Logistikunterstützung und Ausbildung der Bundespolizei.
PROAMATEC wird in drei Phasen eingeführt: Erstauslieferung,
Ergänzungslieferung und Modernisierung der Ausbildungs- und Lehrmethoden.
Durch diese Vorgehensweise können die Polizeikräfte sofort von den neuen
Einsatzsystemen profitieren, denn sie lassen sich schnell in die vorhandene
Infrastruktur einfügen.

Während des internationalen Umweltgipfel 1992 in Rio de Janeiro wurde der
Weltöffentlichkeit deutlich gemacht wie groß bereits die Belastungen des
größten Regenwaldgebietes der Erde vorangeschritten sind. Brasilien ein Land
von 8,5 Millionen Quadratkilometer, mit 159 Millionen Einwohnern, einer
Küstenlinie von 7.500 und Flußläufen von 50 000 Kilometer Länge entwickelte für
die Amazonasregionen eine Reihe von Schutzprogrammen. Diese können jedoch
nicht ohne Mitwirkung der Bundespolizei eingehalten werden. Ziel der
brasilianischen Regierung ist es, eine nachhaltige soziale und wirtschaftliche
Entwicklung unter Wahrung des ökologischen Gleichgewichts zu erreichen. Um
illegale Aktivitäten im Amazonasgebiet zu unterbinden wurden alle bisherigen
Programme (Pró-Amazònia für Amazonasregionen, Promotec für alle übrigen
Landesteile) in PROAMATEC zusammengefaßt.
Die EADS ist aus der Fusion der DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, der
französischen Aerospatiale Matra und der spanischen Construcciones
Aeronáuticas entstanden und ist eines der drei führenden Luft- und
Raumfahrtunternehmen der Welt.
Ihr Ansprechpartner:
Business Unit Defence Electronics and Telecommunications
Michael Hartwig
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V.
Drentestraat 24
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam

[Gatsby2]

EADS Airbus: Ostdeutsche
Unternehmen an A3XX beteiligen
Dresden, 30. November 2000

Lieferantenforum in Dresden
40 Firmen aus Sachsen und Thüringen stellen ihr Know-how vor

"Die EADS Airbus wird alle Möglichkeiten zur Beteiligung ostdeutscher
Unternehmen an den neuen Flugzeugprogrammen A3XX und A400M nutzen."
Das betonte der Vorsitzende der Geschäfts-führung der EADS Airbus GmbH,
Hans-Joachim Gante, am Donnerstag bei einem Lieferantenforum, das das
Luftfahrtunternehmen in Dresden veranstaltete. Gante wies darauf hin, dass es
dem deutschen Airbus-Partner gelungen sei, umfangreiche A3XX-Arbeitspakete
nach Deutschland zu holen. Dazu der Airbus-Chef: "Die A3XX ist für uns eine
enorme technologische Herausforderung und industrielle Chance. Deshalb ist es
unser Ziel, auch leistungsfähige Unternehmen aus den neuen Bundes-ländern
am Bau der A3XX und A400M zu beteiligen."
An dem eintägigen Lieferantenforum nahmen über 40 kleine und mittelständische
Unternehmen aus Sachsen und Thüringen teil. Zu den Gästen gehörten u. a. der
Staatsminister für Wirtschaft und Arbeit in Sachsen, Dr. Kajo Schommer, und der
Staatssekretär im Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Infrastruktur in
Thüringen, Roland Richwien. Beide Politiker unterstrichen während der
Veranstaltung ihr starkes Interesse, die neuen Bundesländer an der Herstellung
der A3XX und A400M einzubeziehen.
Im Verlauf des Lieferantenforums erhielten die ostdeutschen Unternehmen
zunächst einen Überblick über die breitgefächerte Produktpalette der European
Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) und über die bevorstehende
Gründung der integrierten Airbus-Gesellschaft. Außerdem wurden sie über die
Anforderungen an die heutigen und künftigen Lieferanten für die A3XX und
A400M informiert. Anschließend stellten die Firmen aus Sachsen und Thüringen
ihre technologischen Fähigkeiten und industriellen Leistungen vor, um sich für die
neuen Flugzeugprogramme zu qualifizieren. Es ist geplant, die Kontakte nach
diesem Treffen weiter auszubauen.
Bereits im Juli hatte die EADS Airbus ein erstes Lieferantenforum mit
Unternehmen aus Mecklenburg-Vorpommern veranstaltet, um auch die dort
vorhan-denen Fähigkeiten besser beurteilen zu können. Eine weitere Konferenz
ist Anfang 2001 für Firmen aus Sachsen-Anhalt, Brandenburg und Berlin
geplant.
Die A3XX ist ein vierstrahliges Großraumflugzeug für 555 Passagiere und einer
Reichweite von rund 14.500 km. Für das neue Verkehrsflugzeug liegen zurzeit
44 verbindliche Kaufzusagen von fünf Kunden vor. - Die A400M ist das künftige
Militärtransportflugzeug für die Luftwaffen in Europa und wird die C-160 Transall
und C-130 Herkules ablösen. Sieben europäische Staaten haben vereinbart, 225
Transporter zu bestellen.
Ansprechpartner:
EADS Airbus GmbH
Dr. Theodor Benien


European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V.
Drentestraat 24
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam

[Gatsby2]

Flugabwehrführungssystem SAMOC
der EADS besteht Güteprüfung

Ulm, den 29. November 2000
Das Flugabwehrführungssystem SAMOC (Surface to Air Missile Operations
Center) der EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company hat in
einer Güteprüfung durch das Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung
(BWB) seine Funktionsfähigkeit in vollem Umfang nachgewiesen und damit einen
wichtigen Meilenstein auf dem Weg zur Einführung bei der Luftwaffe erreicht.
SAMOC wurde am Standort Ulm der EADS-Business Unit Defence Electronics
and Telecommunications entwickelt.
Wie die EADS am Mittwoch mitteilte, wurde bei der Prüfung durch das BWB die
Softwarefunktionalität des mobilen FlaRak-Gefechtsstandes auf original
Hardware unter Einbeziehung realer Luftlagen getestet. Dazu wurde der
SAMOC-Gefechtsstand Anfang November im EADS-Standort Ulm an das
Luftwaffennetz angeschlossen und eine Verbindung zu den übergeordneten
Luftraum-Kontrollzentren sowie zu den Gefechtsständen auf taktischer Ebene
hergestellt. Parallel dazu wurde bereits eine Gruppe von Luftwaffensoldaten am
Gefechtsstand FlaRak ausgebildet.
"SAMOC demonstriert, welch hohe Leistungssteigerungen existierender
Verteidigungssysteme durch den gezielten Einsatz von Netzwerktechnologien
und modernen Führungssystemen möglich sind", erklärte der Leiter der EADS
Business Unit Defence Electronics and Telecommunications, Dr. Stefan Zoller.
Der Gefechtsstand FlaRak ermöglicht die effiziente Koordination verschiedener
Luftverteidigungssysteme wie PATRIOT, HAWK oder Roland, indem er
Luftlageinformationen verschiedener Sensoren und übergeordneter
Kontrollzentren verarbeitet und über leistungsfähige
Kommunikationsverbindungen an alle angeschlossenen Einheiten weiterleitet.
Damit erhöht bereits die Vernetzung der Luftverteidigungssysteme und
Kontrollzentren die Wirksamkeit der Flugabwehr deutlich. SAMOC ist in
Standardkabinen mobil einsetzbar und eignet sich wegen seiner Flexibilität
besonders für multinationale Einsätze oder Operationen auch außerhalb
Deutschlands.
Mit der erfolgreichen Güteprüfung ist der Grundausbau des mobilen
Gefechtsstandes FlaRak formal abgeschlossen. Als nächster Schritt erfolgt nun
der Truppenversuch beim FlaRak-Geschwader 3 in Ahlhorn.
Die EADS ist im Juli 2000 aus dem Zusammenschluß der drei Unternehmen
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa, München), Aerospatiale Matra (Paris) und
Construcciones Aeronauticas (CASA, Madrid) hervorgegangen. Mit einem
Umsatz von EUR 22,5 Mrd. (1999) ist die EADS das drittgrößte Luft- und
Raumfahrtunternehmen der Welt.


European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V.
Drentestraat 24
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam

[Micky_Maus]

Die F.A.Z. schreibt in ihrer gestrigen Ausgabe u.a., dass EADS nach schwachem Börsenstart gut in Fahrt gekommen ist und Analysten mit weiteren Kursaufschlägen rechnen.
Allerdings wird auch auf die vorhandenen Überkapazitäten hingewiesen und besonders hat EADS vom starken Dollar profitiert. Die DG-Bank sieht bis zum Frühjahr wieder die Parität zum Euro und die EZB hat mit ihrer Politik der Nadelstiche (immer wieder kleine Interventionen am Devisenmarkt) die Europessimisten verunsichert.
Aufgrund des steigenden Euro muß EADS mehr denn je zeigen, dass es profitabel arbeiten kann.

Z.Zt. sind Rüstungs- und Tabakaktien gefragt, während Tech-Aktien gemieden werden. Aber jeder weiß, dass sich das Karrusel weiterdreht.......

[Gatsby2]

Hi Micky,

nett Dich mal wieder zu sehen!

Ich finde, an Deinem Auszug aus der F.A.Z. ist tatsaechlich einiges dran. Irgendwo in diesem oder dem anderen EADS Thread hatte ich auch schon mal eine Analysteneinschaetzung dabei, die besagte dass ein so gutes Auftragsjahr wie das Jahr 2000 sobald nicht wiederkommen wird. Jedenfalls nach Stueckzahlen hat EADS Boeing allerdings klar outperformt - ob das auch profitabel wird, steht noch auf einem anderen Blatt, aber zumindestend die Auslastung bestehender Kapazitaeten duerfte damit gesichert sein.

Es ist wohl einhellige Meinung, dass das Flugzeuggeschaefte eine sehr zyklische Branche ist, die gerade am Ende eines Zyklus steht. Vor allem aus diesem Grunde ist es wichtig, dass EADS die wohl folgende Schwaechephase mit militaerischen Auftraegen gut ueberbrueckt. Gerade in diesem Segment sehe ich aber fuer EADS gute Chancen, denn im Gegensatz zu den U.S.A., wo die Ruestungsindustrie in den letzten zu einer starken Konsolidierung gezwungen war, scheinen die Europaer geschlossener hinter EADS zu stehen. Dies vor allem im Hinblick auf den Eurofighter, die A 400 M und den Eurocopter. Die Phase bis zum Verkaufsstart der A 3 XX duerfte damit ganz gut abgedeckt sein.

Wieder eine ganz andere Sache ist das Launchgeschaeft - dort wird es ab dem naechsten Jahr wohl tatsaechlich erhebliche Ueberkapazitaeten und entsprechende Korrekturen geben.

Die augenblickliche Beliebtheit von Ruestung und Tabak versteht sich im Hinblick auf die Erwartung, dass Bush der naechste Praesident wird, von selbst, aber die Wahl ist noch nicht gelaufen! Ich schiele mittlerweile eher schon wieder auf Technologieaktien, von denen einige doch ziemlich billig geworden sind... Am Rande vielleicht noch ein Wort zu Raytheon, die ja mit ihrer Gewinnwarnung am Freitag den gesamten Ruestungssektor mit nach unten gezogen haben: Aus gewoehnlich gut unterrichteter Quelle kam der Hinweis, dass bis jetzt noch kein Wort ueber die Quartalszahlen fuer das vierte Quartal/2000 gesagt wurde. Angeblich ist auch insoweit noch keineswegs sicher, dass die Erwartungen erreicht werden. Und solange die FAA den neuen Businessjet von RAC noch nicht zertifiziert hat - Verkaufsstart sollte vor 11 Monaten sein - belastet diese Angelegenheit den ohnehin spaerlichen Cash-Flow bei Raytheon mit $50 Mio pro Quartal.

Schoene Woche und schau mal wieder rein...

;-))

[Gatsby2]

Die Verhandlungen zwischen Airbus und Virgin Atlantic ueber den Kauf von 6 A3XX stehen kurz vor dem Abschluss. Mit dieser Bestellung waeren die fuer den Serienbau anfangs geforderten 50 Bestellungen beisammen.

Tuesday December 5, 8:33 am Eastern Time

Virgin [VA.UL] near Airbus A3XX order--spokesman

LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Singapore Airlines affiliate Virgin Atlantic is close to ordering a
batch of A3XX superjumbo airliners from Airbus Industrie [ARBU.UL], a spokesman for the
British-based airline said on Tuesday.

``We have been very actively negotiating with Airbus in recent weeks and we are optimistic
we will come to a conclusion in the next few weeks,`` the spokesman said.

A Virgin purchase of six planes, foreshadowed in June, would be worth up to $1.4 billion and
would give Airbus the orders for 50 A3XXs that it has said would justify full-scale development and production of the 555-seat
aircraft.

The spokesman said Virgin was also negotiating for Boeing Co`s (NYSE:BA - news) 747X Stretch, a slightly smaller superjumbo.

``There may be an opportunity for us there as well,`` he said, adding: ``The Airbus negotiations are very active. They are
developing a momentum.``

Five other customers, including Virgin`s 49 percent shareholder, Singapore Airlines Ltd , have said they would buy A3XX, giving
Airbus an order book of 44.

No airline has yet ordered the 747X Stretch or its smaller, longer-range relative, the 747X.

Airbus is a partnership of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV and Britain`s BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK
& Ireland: BA.L).

VIRGIN NEGOTIATES FOR ITSELF

Some analysts have suspected that some of the 10 planes that Singapore Airlines has ordered would end up with Virgin Atlantic,
but the spokesman said the British carrier was negotiating for itself.

``We are negotiating a tranche for Virgin Atlantic,`` he said.

``We are very interested in the aircraft.``

``It has huge potential to solve some of the problems which we will be experiencing,`` he said, describing the airline`s challenge of
meeting a growing market with limited take-off and landing rights at London`s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

However, Virgin`s bargaining position with Airbus appears to have weakened considerably since June, when it said it was
interested in buying six A3XXs.

Launch customers get keenly priced aircraft because the manufacturer needs them to take the risk and delay inherent in buying a
plane that is not yet flying.

But Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard told Reuters last week that, with 44 orders, the firm was already in a position to launch
the A3XX.

It has variously describe its launch target as ``50`` and ``40 to 50``.

A3XXs are priced at $230 million but industry media have reported that airlines are getting them for around $160 million each.

-- Bradley Perrett, European aerospace & defence correspondent

[Zero.Cool]

@all
was ist los? nach meinen enormen verlußten am nm möchte ich mit eads nicht auch noch unter die räder kommen. kann einer sagen was läuft?
cool

[Gatsby2]

RE: Zero.Cool

Hmm, keine Ahnung. Ausser dem fallenden Kurs hab ich auch nichts, vor allem keine Nachrichten gesehen. Deswegen kann ich im Moment nur spekulieren: Sollte es ein regulaerer Absturz gewesen sein, koennte es daran liegen, dass Geld aus dem "defensive play" EADS abgezogen und demnaechst in spekulativerer Anlagen gesteckt wird. Ich koennte mir aber auch vorstellen, dass jemand im Hinblick auf die bevorstehende Bestellung von Virgin Atlantic den Kurs ein wenig heruntergeholt hat um billiger aufladen zu koennen. Denn mit der genannten Order werden die fuer den Produktionsstart der A3XX geforderten 50 Bestellungen voll. Soweit ich sehe, sind Nachrichten betreffend die A3XX die einzigen Nachrichten, die immer wieder unmittelbar kursrelevant geworden sind.

Wie gesagt: nur der Versuch einer Erklaerung, aber eine EM.TV hast Du mit EADS sicher nicht in der Hand ...

;-))

[nanosonde]

Bin eher der Meinung, das die Kosten für den Produktionsanlauf des A3XX die Kurse drücken.
Aber da ich ein "long Stayer" bin, werden
fallende Kurse nur zum aufstocken genutzt.

Die Marktbreite von EADS (Raumfahrt,Rüstung
sowie Luftfahrt) lassen noch grosses Kurs-
potential vermuten.

mfg nano

[Gatsby2]

Naja, das neue Kursziel, das Du neulich gepostest hast, hat mir ja auch gut gefallen.

Aber meinst Du wirklich, dass es heute die Produktionskosten fuer die A3XX waren? Die sind doch eigentlich lange bekannt, und es muesste auch jeder wissen, dass die wirklich kostenintensive Phase erst noch kommt.

Da kann ich mir schon eher vorstellen, dass es an den ruecklaeufigen Verkaufsprognosen liegt, aber dass sich ein Jahr wie dieses sobald wiederholen wird, konnte ja wohl keiner ernsthaft erwarten. Und fuer die kommenden Jahre ist mit Ruestungsauftraegen gut vorgesorgt, in denen auch ein paar Entwicklungskosten versenkt werden koennen.

Insgesamt kann ich Dir nur zustimmen: EADS hat eine ziemlich gesunde Branchenmischung, und beim derzeitigen Stand der Dinge ist die Aktien sicherlich die vergleichsweise am Guenstigsten bewertete.

;-))

[nanosonde]

@ Gatsby2

Es passt gerade zur Ankündigung des Produktionsstarts.Habe schon mal in einem anderen Thread gepostet, das Airbus erst
oder schon bei 250 A3XX die Gewinnschwelle erreicht.Naja,
bei diesem Markt würde es mich im moment nicht wundern,das
es eine Rolle spielt.(ist aber nur ne persönliche Meinung,mangels weiterer Infos zu dem Kursrutsch)

@ all

EADS begann im Dezember mit Eurofighter-Endmontage in Manching

Manching (vwd) - Die European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) N.V.,Amsterdam, hat Anfang Dezember planmäßig mit der Endmontage des Kampfflugzeugs Eurofighter am Standort Manching begonnen. Die Auslieferung der ersten von insgesamt 180 Maschinen an die deutsche Luftwaffe soll in der zweiten Jahreshälfte 2002 erfolgen, teilte der Luft- und Raumfahrtkonzern am Donnerstag mit.


vwd/7.12.2000/mas/sa

7. Dezember 2000, 17:53

[nanosonde]

Presse: Iran will von Airbus sechs bis acht A330 kaufen

Teheran (vwd) - Die staatliche iranische Fluggesellschaft Iran Air verhandelt mit Airbus Industrie, Toulouse, über den Kauf von sechs bis acht Passagierflugzeugen des Typs A330. Die Kosten einer Order von acht Maschinen wurden mit 720 Mio USD beziffert. Wie die iranische Presse am Donnerstag unter Bezugnahme auf Behzad Mazaheri, Leiter der iranischen Behörde für Zivilluftfahrt und stellvertretender Verkehrsminister, weiter berichtete, sollen die neuen Maschinen die iranische Flotte im kommenden Jahr ergänzen. Den Presseberichten zufolge hat Behzad die Erneuerung der 20 Jahre alten iranischen Flotte als unabdingbar bezeichnet.


vwd/DJ/7.12.2000/bb/hal

7. Dezember 2000, 13:54



Kreise: Pressemeldung über Airbus-Auftrag von Iran Air "verfrüht"

Teheran (vwd) - Airbus Industrie, Toulouse, hat iranische Presseberichte über einen Auftrag der staatlichen iranischen Fluggesellschaft Iran Air über bis zu acht Passagierflugzeuge des Typs A330 im Wert von 720 Mio USD nicht bestätigt. Während ein Airbus-Sprecher am Donnerstag die Meldungen nicht kommentieren wollte, erklärten unternehmensnahe Kreise, dass Airbus zwar mit Iran Air in regelmäßigem Kontakt stehe, der in der Presse genannte Geschäftsabschluss sei jedoch noch nicht sicher. Die persische Tageszeitung "Iran" hatte unter Berufung auf den Leiter der iranischen Behörde für Zivilluftfahrt, Behzad Mazaheri, gemeldet, die neuen Airbus-Maschinen sollten die iranische Flotte im kommenden Jahr ergänzen.



Aus den Airbus-Kreisen hieß es dazu, die Äußerungen Mazaheris seien "verfrüht". Iran Air will den Meldungen zufolge mit dem Kauf der bis zu acht Passagierflugzeuge vom Typ A330 ihre Flugzeugflotte modernisieren. Die iranische Luftfahrt soll laut Mazaheri zudem für Beteiligungen des privaten Sektors geöffnet werden.


vwd/DJ/7.12.2000/ssc/hal

7. Dezember 2000, 15:24

[Gatsby2]

RE: nanosonde

Ja, die Mitteilung ueber die Gewinnschwelle bei 250 Maschinen stammt von EADS selber und wurde auf der Farnborough Airshow bekanntgegeben. Wenn ich es noch richtig in Erinnerung habe, ist die Zahl im Zusammenhang mit dem Streit mit Boeing um die Groesse des Gesamtmarktes fuer derartige Maschinen gefallen. (Findest Du vielleicht noch im Pressearchiv auf der page von EADS)

Voll zustimmen muss ich Deiner Ansicht ueber den Gesamtmarkt. Die Leute laufen im Moment planlos hin und her, weil keiner weiss wo die Reise hingeht. ... Also nehme ich meine momentanen Verluste schlicht hin, und vertraue auf die Qualitaet meiner Papiere.

[Gatsby2]

Airbus requests checks on A330s due to cracks

Last updated: 08 Dec 2000 18:44 GMT (Reuters)



PARIS (Reuters) - The European Airbus consortium has said it
is requesting airlines that run A330 planes with Pratt &
Whitney engines to check their fleets after cracks were
discovered in some engine mounts.

Airbus said in a statement a total of 82 of the A330 planes had
Pratt & Whitney engines but not all were affected by the
problem.

The consortium also said, however, that safety was "never
compromised" by the flaws, and that A330s powered by other
engines makes were not affected.

Airbus is a consortium of European space group EADS and
Britain`s BAE Systems.

[Format-C]

Undurchsichtige Firmenstruktur, teilweise in Staatsbesitz,
millionenschwere Rabatte für Airbusaufträge, lange Zeit keine
Gewinne in Sicht. Fazit: Underunderperformer. Kursziel 12-14 Euro.

[Forwarder]

@gatsby2

Deine Papiere sind gut. Nach meinen Beobachtungen hängt der
Kurs der Aktie im wesentlichen von der Pariser Börse, vom
Ausgang der Präsidentschaftswahlen in den USA und von
regelmäßigen Meldungen ab. Seien es Nachrichten, seien es Berichte in Tageszeitungen, Adhoc-Meldungen oder dergleichen; sobald eine Message den Markt erreicht bewegt sich der Kurs. EADS wäre gut beraten, wenn sie im Controlling oder in der Vorstandsebene eine Pressestelle nur für Analysten einrichten würde - ähnlich wie in jüngster Vergangenheit Volkswagen. Dadurch würde sich das Papier richtig publizieren lassen, die Anlaysten würden regelmäßige ihre Berichte verifizieren und die Konkurrenz beobachten. Investment-Banken, Indizies und Direkt-Broker würden sodann diesem Papier wieder mehr Aufmerksamkeit widmen.

Ich würde es schon als Fortschritt ansehen, wenn die monatlichen Ergebnisse seitens EADS bekanntgegeben würden.

@Format-C

Ich finde Ihre Äußerung hinsichtlich "undurchsichtiger Firmenstruktur...etc." und Ihrem Fazit: Underunderperformer
als Ausdruck dessen, daß Sie in jüngster Vergangenheit aufgrund des heutigen Kurses zum falschen Zeitpunkt geordert haben und nicht warten können.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2
re: Airbus request checks on A330s due to chracks

Zur Info: Am 31.10.2000 kam die Meldung, daß BOEING durch die US-Flugsicherungsbehörde FAA wegen grundlegender Qualitätsmängel bei der Entwicklung und Herstellung gerügt wurde. Die Untersuchung habe gezeigt, dass es sich nicht um Einzelfälle, sondern um "grundlegende Probleme" handele. Die Behörde rügte unter anderem zu komplizierte Produktionsprozesse, ungenügend ausgebildetes Personal sowie "unangemessene oder nicht befolgte Arbeitsanweisungen"

[nanosonde]

Wir sind doch nicht allein hier@Gatsby2
Endlich kommt mal ein bissel leben in die Bude!

FLUGZEUGBAU

Airbus verhandelt mit Russen. Der europäische Flugzeugbauer Airbus will bis Jahresende mit der russischen Industrie einen Kooperationsvertrag über die Entwicklung von Flugzeugen, Hubschraubern und Trägerraketen abschließen. Gemeinsam soll auch ein schwerer Hubschrauber entwickeln werden.
Quelle:wirtschaft.diepresse.at

Achja Goldmann Sachs hat sich zu Airbus geäussert.
08.12.2000
EADS mit Großauftrag
Goldman Sachs


Wie die Analysten von Goldman Sachs verlautbarten, EADS (WKN 938914) habe nun dank eines Großauftrages von Qantas genug Aufträge, um mit der Produktion des neuen Modells A3XX zu beginnen.

Das Unternehmen sei davon ausgegangen, dass 40 bis 50 Aufträge notwendig seien, um den Produktionsstart zu sichern. Nachdem sowohl Qantas wie auch Singapore Airlines jeweils 12 Einheiten des neuen Airbus bestellt hätten, sei mit insgesamt 44 Aufträgen alles gesichert.

Nun bestehe auch kein Anlass mehr, den niedrigen Angeboten von Virgin entgegenzukommen, da der Auftragsdruck nun nicht mehr gegeben sei.

mfg nano

[Gatsby2]

RE: forwarder

Deiner Einschaetzung hinsichtlich der PR Arbeit von EADS stimme ich wohl zu. Sie haben sich allerdings in den letzten zwei Monaten schon stark gebessert, denn jetzt gibt es immerhin schon fortlaufende Pressemitteilungen auf der Homepage. Vorher gab es nur Quartalsergebnisse, die zudem kaum aufgeschluesselt waren.

Gut faende ich es auch wenn sie die jaehrliche Investorenpressekonferenz im Internet uebertragen wuerden. Ebenso wie viele andere U.S. Unternehmen ist beispielsweise Lockheed diesen Weg mit Erfolg gegangen. Neben den blossen Audiopraesentationen hatten sie auch saemtliche Schaubilder (insgesamt fast 300) live dabei. So konnte man sich wirklich einen Eindruck von den Operationen der einzelnen Divisionen bilden.

Die Meldung mit den Produktionsmaengeln bei Boeing hatte ich auch gelesen (sie muesste auch irgendwo in einem der Threads sein). Ich finde die Meldung bezueglich der A-330 auch nicht so uebermaessig beunruhigend. Sowas kommt vor, und es ist besser die Dinger vorsichtshalber zu inspizieren - ein Absturz aufgrund dieses Mangels waere eine weit schlechtere Nachricht.

RE: nanosonde

Ja, ich freue mich auch ueber jeden neuen Poster. Vor allem wenn er - so wie forwarder - Informationen und fundierte Ansichten mitbringt. Es ist schon ein wenig langweilig, immer nur "Selbstgespraeche" zu fuehren, zumal ich glaube, dass es noch eine ganze Reihe anderer geben duerfte, die - sei es aus Anlegerinteresse oder aus Luft- und Raumfahrtbegeisterung - viele Informationen beitragen koennten, die das Gesamtbild abrunden.

Interessant fand ich die Bemerkung von den Goldmaennern. Es scheint, als sei Virgin Atlantic auch im Einkauf ein ziemliches Sparbroetchen. Aber wenn sie die A-3XX zum normalen Fruehzeichnerrabatt bekommen koennen, dann gut. Schliesslich ist jeder Auftrag wichtig, und sei es auch nur um die Entwicklungskosten und den Aufbau der Fertigungskapazitaeten zu amortisieren. Die Gewinne werden spaeter schon noch kommen, zumal es in den U.S.A. mittlerweile schon Spekulationen dahingehend gibt, dass die B-747X mangels Nachfrage moeglicherweise doch nicht gebaut werden wird.

ALLEN eine schoene, erfolgreiche und nicht allzu hektische Vorweihnachtswoche

Gatsby

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby § @nanosonde
Erst mal vielen Dank fuer Euer Feedback.

Hier eine neue Nachricht:

12.12.00/Airbus auf Expansionskurs
Airbus plant fur das kommende Jahr 1000 neue Stellen. Ferner soll die Produktion aufgestockt werden. Bis Ende 2001 werde damit in den Werken Hamburg, Bremen, Stade, Varel, Nordenham, Laubenheim und Buxtehude die Belegschaft von 15.000 auf mindestens 16.000 Beschäftigte erhöht.
Die Gründe für die Neueinstellungen ist die geplante Werksausweitung für den Bau des A3XX, den Ausbau der Endmontage und den Anstieg der Produktion - so Airbus Sprecher Theodor Benien.
Die Investitionen für die Ausdehnung der Produktion plant der Flugzeughersteller mit 1 Millarde Euro.Bis 2002 sollen sodann aus den monatlich 22 produzierten Maschinen in Hamburg und Toulous 30 werden. Bislang werden in HH 12 Maschinen und in Toulouse 10 hergestellt. Für diese positiven Entwicklungen seien auch die anhaltet hohen Auftragseingänge verantwortlich. Bis jetzt hat Airbus bis Ende November 480 Festbestellungen registriert. 1999 waren es den Angaben zufolge 476 Aufträge.

Weitere interessante Meldung:
Brainpool AG /notiert am neuen Markt
Das Unternehmen gab am 8.12.bekannt, über ihre 100%ige Tochter space tv AG mit der Astrium GmbH, einer Tochter der EADS Airbus GmbH, einen Exklusiv-Vertrag über die Bereitstellung von insgesamt 7 Flügen zur internationalen Raumstation ISS geschlossen zu haben. Danach gewann der Titel vor diesem Hintergrund 13,7 % auf 21,60 €.

Das war`s fuer heute.
Noch eine schöne und nicht so stressige Vorweihnachtszeit.

FORWARDER

[nanosonde]

US-Handelsbeauftragte Barshefsky kritisiert Subventionen im Airbus-Geschäft
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Die US-Handelsbeauftragte Charlene Barshefsky hat sich kritisch zu möglichen neuen Subventionen für den Flugzeugbauer Airbus geäußert . Sollte der Hersteller für den Superjumbo A3XX öffentliche Gelder erhalten, dann müßten die USA und die Europäische Gemeinschaft Gespräche führen./ne/ub

Und wenn Ihr es nicht schaft einen Präsi zu wählen, bekommt Ihr unseren Helmut:-)

mfg nano

[Gatsby2]

Ich moechte hier auf keinen Fall eine Tradition der Berichterstattung ueber die Konkurrenz einfuehren. Trotzdem fand ich die nachfolgende
Nachricht ueberaus interessant, denn von Lufthansa haette ich eigentlich eher Unterstuetzung fuer die A-3XX erwartet:

Tuesday December 12, 4:49 pm Eastern Time

Press Release

SOURCE: Boeing Company

Boeing Delivers Milestone 375th Jetliner to Lufthansa

SEATTLE, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Lufthansa German Airlines, which has taken delivery of more Boeing (NYSE: BA - news)
jetliners than any other airline outside the U.S., flew a new milestone Boeing 747-400 home to its Frankfurt headquarters today.
The 747-400 is the 375th Boeing jetliner delivered to Lufthansa and its subsidiary carriers.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001004/BOEINGLOGO )

The airline will use its newest 747-400 on intercontinental routes from Frankfurt. It joins 110 other Boeing airplanes in the
Lufthansa fleet -- including more than 40 747s.

Walt Orlowski, Boeing vice president and general manager-747 Program, commented on the long, close relationship between
Boeing and Lufthansa, and praised the German airline for providing ongoing input to help Boeing improve the 747 over many
years. He specifically praised Lufthansa for its more recent input on the 747X family of airplanes currently in development.

``We commend Lufthansa for working together with Boeing on our new airplane development efforts since the dawn of the jet
age, and especially for its role in defining the 747X airplanes,`` Orlowski said.

Lufthansa participated in the first 747X customer symposium last June and continues to provide valuable input to refine the design
of the 747X airplanes. The 747X family of airplanes includes the 747X and 747X Stretch, either of which is scheduled to enter
service in 2005. The 747X will be the world`s longest-range airplane and the 747X Stretch becomes the world`s largest 747. The
747X family also will offer two versions of the 747X Freighter -- a high-capacity stretched model, and an ultra long-range
freighter.

Lufthansa began its jet age 44 years ago when it became the launch customer for the Boeing 707-430 airplane. The launch came
only six months after the first ever Boeing jetliner, the 707-120, was introduced. Lufthansa then went on to order and take delivery
of 27 more 707s over the next four years. Between 1961 and 1977, Lufthansa also added 53 Boeing medium-range 727s to its
fleet.

In the 1960s when Boeing announced it was studying a new shorter-range jetliner, to be called the 737, Lufthansa stepped forward
once more. On Feb. 15, 1965, the international carrier helped Boeing launch the 737-100 with an order for 21 airplanes.

Lufthansa was one of the first airlines to order the 747-100, the first version of the venerable Boeing 747, in 1966. Therefore, it
was fitting the carrier should agree to be the launch customer for the first Boeing 747 Freighter. Lufthansa ordered two of the
giant 747-200 Freighters in March 1969.

In May 1986, the airline ordered three 747-400s, helping to launch the newest version of the Boeing 747. The first 747-400 was
ordered by Northwest Airlines in October 1985.

Condor Flugdienst, one of Lufthansa`s subsidiaries, had its turn as launch customer in 1996. On Sept. 2, 1996, at the Farnborough
Air Show in England, Condor announced an intention to order 12 757-300s. The 757-300 is a derivative of the 757-200.

The count of 375 airplanes includes deliveries of DC-10s, MD-11s and Boeing 707s, 727s, 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s.

SOURCE: Boeing Company

[nanosonde]

Quelle Bloomberg

Airbus plant noch in diesem Jahr mit dem Bau des A3XX zu beginnen. Bisher liegen 44 Bestellungen vor.

Für 2001 müsse mit einem 30% niedrigerem Auftragsvolumen gerechnet werden.


mfg nano

[Gatsby2]

Mittwoch 13. Dezember 2000, 21:25 Uhr

EADS erwartet Rekordjahr

Die European Aeronautic Defence and Angaben im laufenden Jahr mit einem Rekordumsatz. Das Ergebnis vor Zinsen und Steuern (EBIT) der im Juli 2000
fusionierten Gesellschaft werde den vergleichbaren Vorjahreswert von 1,245 Mrd. Euro "auf jeden Fall überschreiten", sagte Robert Hertrich, der den Konzern gemeinsam mit Philippe Camus führt.

Nach Einschätzung Hertrichs werden die Erlöse des aus Dasa, Casa und Aerospatiale Matra entstandenen Unternehmens in 2000 um sieben Prozent über den Umsätzen der einzelnen Gesellschaften zusammengenommen aus dem Vorjahr liegen. Dies ist vor allem auf den Spitzenwert bei den Auftragseingängen zurückzuführen; bis Ende November registrierte der Konzern allein 480 Airbus-Bestellungen.

Für das kommende Jahr ist Hertrich hinsichtlich des Airbus-Auftragsbestandes pessimistischer. Hier erwartet er einen Rückgang um 20 bis 30 Prozent. Gleichwohl würden die Umsätze aber weiterhin wachsen, was mit den Synergieeffekten aus der Fusion zu begründen sei, die den Erwartungswert von 580 Mio. Euro bis 2004 voraussichtlich überträfen. Zufrieden ist Hertrich zudem mit dem anhaltend hohen Dollarkurs, der EADS den Ertragszielen früher näher bringt als erwartet. Auf der Grundlage des derzeitigen Wechselkurses würde die Umsatzrendite 2004 statt der angepeilten acht nun zehn Prozent betragen. "Das würde uns die gesamte Entwicklung des Airbus A3XX finanzieren", frohlockt der Co-Vorstandschef.

Sorge bereitet Hertrich die Militärsparte. Im laufenden Geschäftsjahr werde der Fehlbetrag des Bereichs Verteidigung und Zivile Systeme mit 62 Mio. Euro in etwa auf dem Niveau des `99er-Wertes liegen. Dem will EADS unter anderem mit dem Abbau von 1.500 Arbeitsplätzen entgegenwirken. Wo die Stellen gestrichen werden sollen, ließ die Gesellschaft mit Sitz in den Niederlanden jedoch offen.

Eine Entscheidung zu dem geplanten Joint Venture auf dem Gebiet der militärischen und militärnahen Telekommunikation will der Konzern in den nächsten Wochen fällen. Einschließlich eines weiteren Zukaufs sieht EADS die Schaffung eines Gemeinschaftsunternehmens mit einem Umsatz von bis zu 500 Mio. Euro.

[Gatsby2]

Crossair wechselt zu Airbus. Hoffentlich bringen die ihren Piloten auch bei, wie man mit den Dingern umgeht...

Thursday December 14, 2:52 am Eastern Time

Crossair sees no profit in 2000, gets Airbus jets

(UPDATE: Adds details from statement, background)

ZURICH, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Crossair , a European regional airline that is part of SAirGroup ,
said on Thursday it did not expect to make a profit in 2000 due to high fuel costs and the strong
dollar.

It also said its board had decided to acquire eight Airbus A320 jets and take options on four
more.

``After overall disappointing developments in November, we can now no longer expect a positive result for 2000,`` it said in a
statement. A spokesman declined to give more details or say if the company would report a loss or break even.

High fuel prices and the dollar`s advance to a 14-year high against the Swiss franc this year made costs soar. Its fuel bill rose by
80 percent or 75 million Swiss francs in the first 10 months of the year.

Cost-cutting measures designed to save 50 million francs were unable to prevent the profit ``collapse``, it said.

Crossair, in which SAirGroup has a 68.8 percent stake, posted a first-half loss of 6.1 million francs, its first negative six-month
results since 1992.

It had not made a specific forecast for full-year results when it released half-year figures in August. It had a net attributable profit
of 52.9 million in 1999.

Its new Airbus aircraft will replace the McDonnell Douglas Corp MD-80 fleet from 2002. Crossair said it had also considered
Boeing Corp`s (NYSE:BA - news) 737-800 planes.

The craft will be taken from an existing order of SAirGroup with GATX Flightlease (NYSE:GMT - news).

Airbus Industrie [ARBU.UL] is a partnership of EADS and BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L).

Crossair shares closed on Wednesday at 431 francs, down 44 percent on the year but off a low of 400 touched in November. It
has underperformed the broad Swiss market (^SSHI - news) by nearly 53 percent.

[nanosonde]

Airbus-Entwickler denken an Nurflügler für 1.000 Passagiere
Bonn (vwd/AP) - Die Airbus-Entwickler des europäischen Luft- und Raumfahrtkonzerns European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Co (EADS), Amsterdam, erwägen revolutionäre Konzepte für künftige Verkehrsflugzeuge. Chefingenieur Jean-Jacques Mirat äußerte in einem Gespräch mit der Fachzeitschrift "Flug Revue" die Ansicht, in spätestens 30 Jahren könne ein Nurflügler angeboten werden. Er sprach von einer vierstrahligen Langstreckenmaschine mit einem Fassungsvermögen von etwa 1.000 Passagieren, wie das Blatt am Dienstag mitteilte.



Im Gegensatz zu herkömmlichen Flugzeugen besteht der Nurflügler nur aus einer riesigen Tragfläche, in deren Innern Passagierkabine und Cockpit sowie Treibstofftanks untergebracht sind. Nurflüglern wird eine große Zukunft zugeschrieben, weil sie wegen geringeren Luftwiderstandes weniger Treibstoff verbrauchen. Allerdings ist es schwieriger, sie in einer stabilen Fluglage zu halten. Auch ein neues Überschall-Verkehrsflugzeug ist trotz des Niedergangs der britisch-französischen Concorde bei Airbus im Gespräch, wie "Flug Revue" meldete. Man denke an eine vierstrahlige Maschine mit einem Fassungsvermögen von 250 Fluggästen und doppelter Schallgeschwindigkeit.


vwd/12.12.2000/hal

12. Dezember 2000, 15:55







Finanzierung für Super-Airbus ist gesichert
Der Startschuß für den Bau des Großraumflugzeugs erfolgt noch heuer.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MÜNCHEN (dpa). "Wir werden den Startschuß für den Bau des A 3XX absolut sicher noch in diesem Jahr bekannt geben", kündigte EADS-Vorstand Rainer Hertrich in München an. Die Finanzierung des elf Mrd. Dollar (173 Mrd. S/12,6 Mrd. Euro) teuren Projekts, mit dem Airbus den 747-Jumbo von Boeing angreifen will, sei gesichert. Der neue Flugriese soll der EADS, die aus der Fusion von DASA, Aerospatiale Matra und CASA entstanden ist und damit drei von vier Airbus-Partnern vereint, einen weiteren Wachstumsschub bringen.
Derzeit liegen Airbus 44 verbindliche Kaufzusagen für den A 3XX vor, noch diese Woche könnten sechs weitere Bestellungen von Virgin Atlantic hinzukommen. Allein in Deutschland werden laut Hertrich 15.000 Mitarbeiter bei EADS und 600 Zulieferer an dem Großflugzeug arbeiten. Im Hamburger Airbus-Werk sind 4000 neue Stellen geplant. Bis Ende November lag der Auftragseingang bei Airbus bereits bei 480 Flugzeugen. Der Auftragsbestand habe in den ersten elf Monaten den Rekordwert von 1621 Maschinen erreicht, 15 mehr als Boeing mit 1606 Maschinen, berichtete Hertrich. Schon 2001 könnte es einen Rückgang des Auftragseingangs nach fast sechs Jahren Aufschwung um 20 bis 30 Prozent geben. "Durch den hohen Auftragsbestand ist die Auslastung der Airbus-Kapazitäten für die nächsten vier bis fünf Jahre aber garantiert."



© Die Presse | Wien

[Gatsby2]

Ach ja, der gute alte Nurfluegler. Den hatte Boeing vor 10 Jahren auch schon auf dem Reissbrett.

Nicht unproblematisch ist auch die Idee mit dem Ueberschallflugzeug. Die kommerzielle Nutzung von Ueberschallfliegern wird im Moment primaer von Gulfstream (Tochtergesellschaft von General Dynamics [NYSE:GD]) betrieben. Das neueste Produkt soll etwa 2003 serienreif sein, wobei das zentrale Problem ein altes geblieben ist: Schon der Concorde wurden die Ueberflugrechte ueber Land verweigert weil die Laermemissionen zu hoch waren...

Insgesamt finde ich die Ideen aber gar nicht so schlecht: Schon das Projekt Concorde hat sich langfristig als sehr erfolgreich erwiesen. Weniger in kommerzieller Hinsicht, als in Bezug auf die Gruendung eine gemeinsamen europaeischen Luftfahrtindustrie, die schliesslich in EADS ihren Gipfelpunkt fand. Abgesehen davon, dass die Concorde sicherlich das schoenste jemals gebaute Verkehrsflugzeug war, boete sich der Name geradezu zur Fortfuehrung an. Warum nicht eine Concorde II als Symbol transatlantischer Eintracht?

Ein gut denkbarer Partner waere hier Lockheed Martin. Nicht nur deswegen, weil der gemeinsame Erzrivale Boeing Einigkeit schafft, sondern auch darum, weil LMC gerade dabei ist in den kommerziellen Markt zurueckzukehren. Schon die Entwuerfe des neuen Tankflugzeuges deuten klar darauf hin, und Lockheeds Erfahrung in Ueberschallflugzeugen waere die ideale Ergaenzung zu der Erfahrung von Airbus im Bau von Verkehrsflugzeugen.

:-))

[Gatsby2]

Friday December 15, 10:55 am Eastern Time

A3XX super-jumbo throws spotlight on Airbus bottom
line

By Noah Barkin

PARIS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A year ago, as Airbus Industrie racked up record jet orders and
momentum grew for its ambitious super-jumbo plane project, experts said the European
aircraft maker might have finally gained a step up on its arch-rival Boeing.

Airlines that had been loyal Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) customers for years were suddenly
awakening to the strengths of the Airbus (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L) aircraft family, with its uniform cockpits and
fly-by-wire technology.

Boeing, saddled with a comparatively old-technology jet line-up and emerging from a period of financial difficulty, looked like it had
been outmanoeuvred in the large aircraft segment it had monopolised for decades.

Today, as Airbus readies itself to formally launch its 555-seat A3XX super-jumbo, analysts say the picture is more complex.

Initial interest in the A3XX has been strong, with firm commitments from airlines for 50 of the mammoth planes. But Boeing has
also posted record orders for its 777, a 300-seat plane tailor-made for the lower-capacity long-range routes it believes will multiply
and preclude the need for a new jumbo.

The upshot of this more balanced scenario, analysts say, is that the Airbus super-jumbo may well find a strong following but is
unlikely to shake up seriously the competitive dynamic between the two manufacturers.

What the plane will do is throw the spotlight on Airbus` finances as its long-awaited transformation from consortium to company is
due to make its accounts more transparent.

``The A3XX is not a make-or-break plane but it is clearly high risk,`` said Howard Wheeldon of Prudential Bache in London.
``Faced with greater transparency, Airbus and EADS will have to prove that they are putting shareholder interests first.``

FOCUS ON BOTTOM LINE

Airbus chief Noel Forgeard has made significant strides in reducing inefficiencies in recent years to prepare for the group`s
transformation from a consortium to a company.

Airbus has publicly pledged annual cost savings of 250 million euros from 2004 by cutting purchasing expenses and eliminating
overlapping functions in the consortium structure.

Analysts now believe the plane maker may be able to deliver an operating margin of over eight percent this year. But much of this
profit strength is the result of a weak euro and Airbus will have a great deal to prove in the coming years as it takes on the added
burden of the jumbo project.

Airbus and its shareholders -- EADS with 80 percent and BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L) with 20
percent -- have said the A3XX will break even if the group can sell 250 of the super-jumbos over the next 10 years.

That translates into two dozen aircraft per year -- a level which may prove difficult to attain if the company goes through an order
dry-spell, which many expect.

``They have strong initial interest but they need to maintain the momentum in the years ahead,`` said Paul Nisbet of JSA Research.

HIGH MARGIN BUSINESS

As that pressure mounts, a simultaneous race will be on at Airbus and Boeing to make their existing activities more profitable by
outsourcing more of their metal bashing and by pushing into higher margin after-market service activities.

``The nature of the game is changing,`` said a London-based analyst. ``We are witnessing a shift in emphasis from manufacturing
of planes to the providing of services.``

In this arena, Boeing clearly has a head start on its European challenger.

Although Boeing went through a painful period in the mid-1990s because of a price war with Airbus, the company has made
strides in recent years to boost efficiency and branch out into more profitable businesses.

Two years into a quest for higher service revenues, the Seattle-based firm is aiming to boost growth of these activities by at least
15 percent per year.

Airbus and EADS, which struck a joint venture in late October with U.S. defence electronics group Northrop Grumman Corp
(NYSE:NOC - news) to repair, maintain and overhaul large commercial aircraft, are just getting started in this area.

``This is a big market and potentially quite profitable,`` said Nisbet of JSA.

[Gatsby2]

Friday December 15, 11:18 am Eastern Time

ANALYSIS-Airbus A3XX harnesses technology and
sheer size

By Bradley Perrett, European aerospace & defence correspondent

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Airbus Industrie`s [ARBU.UL] planned A3XX giant airliner
promises a leap forward in efficiency in two ways: new technology and sheer scale.

``About half of the cost savings in the A3XX come from pure size effect and the other half are from new technology,`` said Bob
Lange, Airbus`s A3XX marketing director.

The bottom line, according to Airbus, is that an A3XX will carry each passenger on a typical long-haul flight for about 15 percent
less cost than would be incurred by a Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) 747-400, currently the industry`s efficiency champion.

Airbus, a partnership of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV and BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland:
BA.L), raised its A3XX order book to 50 on Friday with a sale to Virgin Atlantic [VA.UL] and is expected to launch production
within weeks.

Achieving the plane`s efficiency has demanded more advanced technology than previously worked into an airliner design. And the
world`s three major aero-engine companies have helped by developing their technology to slash fuel consumption.

Yet very little of the technology in the A3XX or its engines is entirely new. In the decades-old tradition of civil-aircraft design, the
A3XX is mostly an evolutionary development.

``We cannot take the risk of testing new technology on the customers,`` Lange told Reuters.

A glance at the design, which will fly in 2004, reveals that Airbus is using the standard jetliner configuration that the Boeing 707
established in the mid 1950s: engines mounted on pylons under a swept wing that runs through the bottom of a tubular fuselage
which has a swept fin and tailplane.

BIGGER IS CHEAPER

But the A3XX is bigger than any previous airliner, and that alone makes it more efficient. Since the dawn of aviation, engineers
have known that if they make a plane 50 percent bigger it will carry more than 50 percent more payload -- passengers, freight or
weapons -- and without 50 percent more cost.

As it swings onto the runway, a fully loaded A3XX-100, the initial version, will weigh up to 560 tonnes (1.23 million pounds), 40
percent more than the 397 tonne (875,000 pound) 747-400, currently the world`s biggest airliner.

The main deck will seat economy class passengers 10 abreast while the full-length upper deck will take rows of eight seats.

Extra passenger facilities, but not seats, could go in a lower deck, since the freight hold will have standing height, but airlines have
been sceptical of extravagant proposals such us gyms, because they would displace revenue-earning freight.

But while Airbus has made the A3XX bigger, it has worked to hold down the plane`s weight, which drives up such costs as fuel
consumption, engine maintenance and airport charges.

``A number of innovations introduced on the A3XX will ensure considerable weight savings despite the aircraft`s prodigious
spaciousness,`` Airbus says in a briefing paper on the plane.

Airbus is putting in more carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, using that light composite even for the very core of the A3XX, the
immensely strong structure at the intersection of the wing and fuselage. That part alone will save 1.5 tonnes, it says.

Taking a leaf from Boeing`s book, the beams that support the floors will be carbon-fibre, along with much else on the plane.

Combining the economies of scale with the new technology, Airbus says that while the plane is 41 percent heavier than the
747-400, it has 49 percent more cabin floor area and flies 12 percent further -- up to 15,100 km (8,150 nautical miles).

BETTER WING, BETTER ENGINES

Efficiency also depends on how well a plane`s wing supports the weight, producing the necessary lift with minimum drag.

Airbus says its wing has a better ratio of lift to drag than the 1960s wing of the 747, although the European firm declines to reveal
exactly how much better, saying the figure is a crucial statistic that Boeing would like to know.

Finally, the drag must be overcome by the engines, and here the world`s three great aero-engine manufacturers -- Rolls-Royce Plc
(quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: RR.L), Pratt & Whitney (NYSE:UTX - news) and General Electric Co (NYSE:GE - news) --
have stepped up to produce turbofans that use 10 percent less fuel for the thrust they generate.

Yet the plane might have been lighter and even more efficient, because Airbus has designed some parts of the A3XX heavier than
necessary, to suit even bigger versions it plans.

Most notably, the A3XX has the wing of a 660 seater, an awesome piece of engineering that spans almost 80 metres and can,
with minor modifications, handle a much greater load.

``The idea is that an operator that gets one A3XX model will later be able to get other models without it affecting operations,``
Lange said.

The engines, too, are oversized and will be able to generate more thrust for later versions with little modification.

[Gatsby2]

Friday December 15, 3:08 pm Eastern Time

Forbes.com
Around-The-Globe: Airbus Set To Launch A3XX
By Todd Jatras

After clinching a deal today to sell six A3XX planes to Virgin Atlantic Airways, Airbus
Industrie has reached the 50 orders it previously said it needed to launch its long-range,
double-decker super-jumbo aircraft. The agreement, which includes an option for Virgin to
purchase six additional planes, is valued at more than $3.8 billion.

The European company, 80% owned by the French-German-Spanish European Aeronautics Defense Space Consortium and 20%
owned by the U.K`s BAE Systems, must decide whether to go ahead with production of its next-generation aircraft. With
Germany`s Lufthansa and British Airways (NYSE: BAB - news) considered to be close to placing orders for the planes, that
seems all but certain. Airbus` board is expected to meet and give approval for production before the end of the year and have
targeted a production schedule that begins in 2003, with deliveries starting in 2006.

Airbus Chief Executive Noel Forgeard said today, ``With 50 confirmed orders and many options from top-class customers, Airbus
is now in a strong position to begin production of the A3XX.`` Airbus estimates production will cost $12 billion, but several industry
analysts have placed that figure at roughly $17 billion. Airbus has also said that its production plan calls for it to break even after
selling 250 planes, which it projects would happen by 2011.

Airline analysts have criticized plans for the giant aircraft, citing everything from safety concerns during an evacuation to problems
with deplaning and excessive noise.

While Boeing (NYSE: BA - news) has said in the past that it thinks customers want smaller, fuel-efficient planes that can be used
on routes to secondary cities, it eventually reacted by announcing competitive plans for a stretch version of its 747 jumbo jet that
would carry 520 passengers. Boeing, which has said there would not be enough demand for the A3XX, has not received a single
order for its reconfigured 747. Boeing`s largest plane is currently the 747-400, which has capacity for 416 passengers.

Airbus claims the A3XX will offer 20% lower seat operating costs compared to the 747-400, while providing up to 40% more
seats and 10% to 15% more range, or a total of 7,650 nautical miles per flight. So, it would seem that Boeing has a real quandary
on its hands as to how it should compete with Airbus in the battle to supply companies with aircraft for international routes.

With Virgin, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air France, Emirates Airlines and International Lease Finance already on board, and
Lufthansa and British Airways on deck, the A3XX could become a real headache for Boeing. The prospect of onboard gyms,
bars, casinos, game arcades, beauty centers, child care areas, conference rooms and showers may just be too compelling for the
world`s airlines to resist.

See:

British Airways on the Forbes International 800

Lufthansa on the Forbes International 800

Air France Group on the Forbes International 800

Qantas Airways on the Forbes International 800

Singapore Airlines on the Forbes International 800

Related Item: The Best Italian Cars

Subscribe to Forbes Magazine

Go to www.forbes.com to see all of our latest stories.

[Gatsby2]

Heute gab es wirklich einen Haufen Nachrichten ueber EADS. Vor allem die A-3XX hat viel Furore gemacht und einige sehr positive Analysen
hervorgerufen. Die weniger angenehmeren Themen habe ich mal an den Anfang gestellt, weiter unten wird`s dann besser. Die Quintessenz der
Analystenmeinungen duerfte wohl darin liegen, dass Boeing sich mit ihrer Einschaetzung des Marktes fuer die A-3XX gruendlich geirrt haben
duerften.

Leider auch heute wieder alles in Englisch, was aber sicherlich keine Probleme bereiten duerfte.

Friday December 15, 1:28 pm Eastern Time

EU, U.S. to discuss Airbus funding

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - U.S. and European Union officials will discuss financing for
the planned Airbus [ARBU.UL] superjumbo at two meetings over the next month, an EU
source said on Friday.

It is expected to be one of the issues discussed when deputy U.S. Trade Representative Susan Esserman and senior EU trade
official Peter Carl meet in Washington on Monday, the source said.

``A number of issues will be discussed. I would be surprised if the Americans didn`t raise A3XX,`` he said, referring to Airbus`
planned giant airliner.

Germany, Britain and France have promised to finance up to one third of the cost of developing Airbus` proposed new A3XX
superjumbo, which is variously estimated at $10.7 billion or $12 billion.

This has raised concerns at Seattle-based Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - news), the world`s largest aircraft manufacturer, which has
long dominated the market for large jets.

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said on Tuesday that the funding plans could violate World Trade Organisation
rules. ``Airbus is not an infant industry. It has over half of the civil aircraft market. It should not be receiving government subsidies
of any kind,`` she said.

U.S. trade officials have not ruled out filing a complaint in the Geneva-based WTO over the European funding for the A3XX.

EU and U.S. officials will also meet in mid-January in Washington for consultations under a 1992 EU-U.S. agreement on aircraft
subsidies, the EU source said.

Under that agreeement, both sides agreed to ban production aid and cap research and development aid for new aircraft at
between 30 and 35 percent.

The agreement provides for consultations if either side wishes to raise concerns about aircraft funding.

EU officials have pledged to make sure that European government funding for the new super-jumbo is in line with the 1992
agreement.

The EU source said the EU had been calling for some time for the U.S. concerns over A3XX funding to be aired in this context.

He said the EU also had issues which it would ask the United States about at the January meeting, such as how U.S. government
funding to Boeing for defence projects is used.

[Gatsby2]

Ach, hab ich ja ganz vergessen. Virgin Atlantic kauft 6 A-3XX, womit die 50 voll waeren.

Friday December 15, 9:39 am Eastern Time

Airbus Seals Deal for Superjumbo

By CLAR NI CHONGHAILE
Associated Press Writer

PARIS (AP) -- Airbus Industrie has received a firm order for six of its yet-to-be-built
superjumbos from Britain`s Virgin Atlantic Airways, moving the $12 billion project to build the
world`s largest passenger plane one step closer to an official launch.

Airbus said in a statement Friday that Virgin had also taken an option on six of the giant A3XX planes and would use the
superjumbos on routes from London to New York and Los Angeles. Virgin Atlantic valued the deal at more than $3.8 billion.

With 50 firm orders for the A3XX on its books, Airbus is expected to officially launch construction of the planes in the next
several days.

The European consortium hopes the new 555-seat luxury plane will allow it to clip the wings of rival Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA -
news), whose 747 fleet has traditionally dominated the long-range, high-capacity market.

Airbus officials have described the A3XX as a flying cruise ship. The double-deck jet will have more legroom and can be equipped
with bars, gyms and spacious lounges.

Airbus officials have already said that the A3XX project is ready for takeoff, but shareholders must give their approval before an
official launch. Airbus shareholders are the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, which holds 80 percent, and
Britain`s BAE Systems, with 20 percent.

Airbus officials have said they need 50 firm orders before they can go ahead with building the plane.

``With 50 orders and many more options from quality customers around the world, Airbus is now in a strong position to launch
production of the A3XX,`` Airbus chief executive Noel Forgeard said in a statement.

Five other airlines already have signed up for the A3XX. Germany`s Lufthansa AG and British Airways are also in talks to buy the
mammoth aircraft.

The A3XX has intensified the rivalry between Airbus, which was created in 1972, and Boeing, highlighting their conflicting
forecasts for air travel in the 21st century.

Airbus says the demand for larger planes is set to grow and forecasts that the number of airliners in service with 400 seats or
more will rise to 1,235 over the next two decades. Boeing argues that airlines are more interested in smaller, more efficient planes
that have the range to bypass major hubs on their way to secondary cities.

The Seattle-based plane manufacturer has however come up with plans for a stretch version of its 747 jet, which will seat some
520 people. It has not yet received any orders for the new plane, which it estimates will cost between $4 billion and 6 billion to
develop.

Boeing`s biggest jet at the moment is the 747-400, which can carry some 416 passengers.

As well as Virgin and Qantas, Airbus has secured firm orders for the A3XX from Singapore Airlines, Air France, Emirates
Airlines, and the International Lease Finance Corporation.

The A3XX project is not just a prickly issue between the two plane manufacturers. It is also a hot trade issue between the United
States and the European Union.

Officials from both sides will meet next Monday to discuss government financing for the superjumbo project, Deputy U.S. Trade
Representative Susan Esserman said Thursday.

The United States is worried that European governments will help Airbus finance the project on more favorable terms than those
available in private capital markets. Several European governments have tentatively agreed to provide reimbursable financing for
about a third of the project.

[Gatsby2]

Oh, die Amis werden sauer. Nachdem Boeing jahrelang das Marktpotential fuer die A-3XX heruntergespielt und jahrelang recht arrogant das Angebot zum gemeinsamen Bau der Maschine abgelehnt hat, wollen sie es jetzt auf politischer Ebene versuchen. Sieht schon etwas komisch aus, wo doch sonst immer die Europaer als Protektionisten gebrandmarkt werden.

Friday December 15, 6:19 pm Eastern Time

EU Airbus funding could be next big spat, US warns

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The United States warned on Friday that plans by
Germany, Britain and France to help finance a new Airbus superjumbo jet could lead to a
major new trade spat.

A U.S. trade official stopped short of saying the United States would challenge the European
Union on the issue at the World Trade Organization.

``But we are saying this will be a very big issue between the United States and Europe if we
can not get it resolved,`` the official told reporters ahead of a U.S.-EU summit on Monday.

The proposed new A3XX superjumbo jet moved one step closer to reality on Friday after Airbus received its 50th order for the
plane. ``With 50 orders and many more options from quality customers around the world, Airbus is now in a strong position to
launch production of the A3XX,`` Airbus Chief Executive Noel Forgeard said in a statement.

Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Susan Esserman and senior EU trade official Peter Carl are to discuss the issue during the
summit on Monday. The two sides will hold formal consultations on U.S. concerns Jan. 11, EU officials here said.

Germany, Britain and France have promised to finance up to a third of the cost of developing the A3XX, which is variously
estimated at $10.7 billion or $12 billion.

That has raised concerns at the Seattle-based Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news), the world`s largest aircraft manufacturer, which
has long dominated the market for large jets.

Earlier this week, U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky questioned why the European aircraft consortium would need
government assistance. ``Airbus is not an infant industry. It has over half of the civil aircraft market. It should not be receiving
government subsidies of any kind,`` she said.

EU officials told reporters at a weekly briefing that both WTO rules and a 1992 U.S.-EU civil aviation treaty allow EU member
states to provide Airbus the loans.

``We believe we our following our international obligations, as well as our bilateral,`` an EU aide said.

But the U.S. trade official said the EU could be in violation of the WTO subsidy code if the loans are not being made on a
commercial basis. ``We don`t think subsidies are appropriate,`` the official said. ``We hope to make sure that is understood loud and
clear by the Europeans during the summit.``

[Gatsby2]

A-3XX - Die Fakten:

Tuesday December 19, 4:26 am Eastern Time

FACTBOX-Key facts on the Airbus superjumbo

PARIS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - European plane maker Airbus Industrie (quote from Yahoo! UK &
Ireland: BA.L) is expected to receive the green light from its board on Tuesday to begin
developing the A3XX superjumbo airplane.

Below are key facts about the aircraft that will dislodge the Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) 747
jumbo as the largest commercial airliner in the skies:

THE PLANE

* The plane has carried the name A3XX in the run-up to its launch, but Airbus is expected to
dub the final version of the plane the A350.

* In the standard three-class configuration, the initial version of plane will have a capacity of
555 seats, 35 percent greater than the Boeing 747-400. Airbus has said a subsequent version of the aircraft would seat 656
passengers and airlines could opt to put up to 800 seats on the plane.

* The A3XX will have three decks, with the top two seating passengers and the lower deck available for cargo, rest areas, sleeper
cabins and lavatories. Passengers will board and deplane from the top two decks.

* Airbus has launched a publicity campaign emphasising the amenities which airlines could add to the plane should they so desire.
These include bars, casinos, gyms, creches and lounges.

* The A3XX passenger plane will have a range of 8,150 nautical miles (15,100 km) and a maximum payload of 83 tonnes,
compared with a range of 7,300 nautical miles (13,500 km) for the Boeing 747-400. The plane will have a wing-span of 79.8
metres, a length of 73 metres and a height of 24.1 metres.

* Airlines will have a choice of engines produced by Rolls-Royce Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: RR.L) or a joint venture of
General Electric Co (NYSE:GE - news) and Pratt & Whitney (NYSE:UTX - news). Each engine, evolved from earlier designs,
will produce about 300 kilonewtons (70,000 lbs) of thrust.

THE TIMETABLE

* Airbus expects final definition of the plane to be completed by the end of 2001. The plane`s first flight is expected by mid-2004
and the A3XX passenger version will enter into service in the first quarter of 2006. The freighter version is scheduled to enter into
service in 2007.

THE COST

* Airbus estimates that non-recurring development costs for the A3XX will total $10.7 billion. Roughly a third of that cost will be
paid by European governments in France, Germany, Britain and Spain. Airbus owners EADS and BAE Systems (quote from
Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L) and risk-sharing partners will put up the remainder.

* EADS has said that development costs for the A3XX will total roughly 400 million euros for 2000, bringing the total amount
spent to-date on development to 800 million euros.

* Airbus says the A3XX will have 17 percent lower operating costs than the current Boeing 747-400 jumbo.

* Airbus has given the A3XX a catalogue price of $230 million, although prices for launch customers were reportedly 30 percent
below that figure. This compares with a price of $185 million for the Boeing 747-400.

THE CUSTOMERS

* Six companies had signed up to be launch customers for the A3XX as of Monday, with firm commitments for a total of 50
planes. They included Air France , Emirates Airlines, International Lease Finance Corp (NYSE:AIG - news), Qantas Airways
(Australia:QAN.AX - news), Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic [VA.UL].

* Airbus and EADS have also said that talks are ongoing with Lufthansa , Cathay Pacific , British Airways (quote from Yahoo! UK
& Ireland: BAY.L), Fedex (NYSE:FDX - news) and Atlas Air (NYSE:CGO - news).

THE MARKET

* Airbus estimates demand for passenger planes with more than 400 seats at 1,235 units, valued at $282 billion, between 2000 and
2019. It forecasts additional demand for 315 freighters with capacity of greater than 80 tonnes, valued at $61 billion.

* Airbus rival Boeing sees demand for 1,010 planes the size of its 747 or larger over the 2000-2019 period. It says demand for
roughly 410 of these planes will be for passenger aircraft the size of its 747-400 and 250 of the total requirement for freighters.
Boeing expects demand for only 330 passenger jets with 500 or more seats over the period.

THE COMPETITION

* Boeing has announced plans for three derivatives of its existing 747 jumbo to counter the A3XX. These include the following
planes:

- A 747-400 long-range plane which will be the same size as the existing 747-400 but equipped for extended range or greater
payload capability. This plane has been launched and will enter into service in 2002.

- A 747X plane capable of flying 430 to 442 passengers 8,975 nautical miles (16,640 km). This plane is still under study. Depending
on market interest, Boeing says this plane will enter service in 2005.

- A 747X Stretch plane cpable of seating 504 to 522 passengers. This plane is still under study. Depending on market interest,
Boeing says this plane will enter service in 2005.

[Gatsby2]

Diese Nachricht ist interessanter, als sie auf den ersten Blick erscheinen mag. Ein grosses Problem fuer die Verbreitung der A-3XX ist naemlich, dass die meisten Flughaefen nicht auf das Andocken derart grosser Flugzeuge ausgerichtet sind. Das Boarding auf dem Vorfeld ist angesichts der grossen Passagierzahl zu langwierig, und zum Andocken am Terminal braucht man Landebruecken auf zwei Ebenen. Neben einigen asiatischen Flughaefen ist u.a. auch das neue Terminal 2 in Frankfurt ist dafuer ausgelegt, aber auf vielen anderen wichtigen Flughaefen fehlen die notwendigen Einrichtungen bislang noch.

Monday December 18, 7:54 pm Eastern Time

BAA to invest in Heathrow for A3XX - FT

LONDON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - British airport operator BAA Plc will have to invest about 150
million pounds ($221.6 million) to prepare London`s Heathrow airport to handle the Airbus
A3XX super-jumbo, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday.

It quoted BAA Chief Executive Mike Hodgkinson as saying that the verges of Heathrow`s
both runways would have to be widened, along with the exits to the taxiways.

New facilities at long haul terminals and two additional piers were also planned.

Hodgkinson said Heathrow would be able to handle up to seven A3XXs on the ground at one time and additional capacity would
be created if BAA received the go-ahead from the government next year for its 2.0 billion pound project for a fifth terminal.

BAA officials could not be reached immediately for comment.

Industry sources said on Monday Airbus Industrie [ARBU.UL] was about to launch the $10.7 billion development of its new
A3XX giant airliner.

The A3XX, intended to supplant Boeing Co`s (NYSE:BA - news) 747 as the largest and most expensive civil aircraft in
production, would move into full-scale development on Tuesday, German industry sources said.

Airbus sold six A3XXs to Virgin Atlantic Airways [VA.UL] on Friday, giving it the 50 advance orders it had targeted for a launch.

[Gatsby2]

Tuesday December 19, 6:56 am Eastern Time

EU Commission disputes U.S. claim of Airbus subsidies

BRUSSELS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Tuesday that Airbus
Industrie`s superjumbo-jet project was backed by repayable loans, not subsidies as claimed by
the United States.

It also linked the U.S. complaint to Seattle-based Boeing Co.`s (NYSE:BA - news) bid to halt
the launch of Airbus.

Gunnar Wiegand, spokesman for External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten, said Airbus
production would be ``in full compliance with the bilateral agreement with the U.S. on aircraft production``.

``The form of support will be repayable loans. These are not subsidies,`` he told a news briefing, adding that the subsidy claim was
``linked to Boeing`s attempt to disrupt the launch of Airbus,`` he said.

On Monday, U.S. President Bill Clinton told visiting EU leaders a new transatlantic trade fight could erupt over state funding for
the Airbus project.

On Tuesday Airbus, a partnership of European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co NV and Britain`s BAE Systems Plc, plans to
launch its A3XX jumbo-airliner project, expected to cost $10.7 billion or more to develop.

[Gatsby2]

Tuesday December 19, 9:43 am Eastern Time

Airbus Shareholders OK Superjumbo

By JOCELYN GECKER
Associated Press Writer

TOULOUSE, France (AP) -- Airbus Industrie said Tuesday that its shareholders have
approved its plans to build a superjumbo jet to be called the A380 which would be the world`s
largest passenger plane.

Airbus hopes the huge, 555-seat jumbo which had been referred to as the A3XX will give it a competitive edge over rival Boeing
Co. (NYSE:BA - news)

So far, Airbus has received 50 firm orders and 42 options for the double-decker A380, which will have larger cabins, more floor
space and staircases, and can be equipped with bars, casinos and lounges.

``This decision heralds a new era in the history of flight, with the introduction into service of the world`s 21st century jetliner in
early 2006,`` the company said in a statement.

Manfred Bischoff, chairman of the Airbus supervisory board, said the A380 represents a ``great day`` for the consortium.

``We cannot be more proud of the product we developed,`` he said. ``We intend to once more set a standard for quality and
efficiency.``

Airbus said its shareholders` supervisory board gave the green light earlier Tuesday for the $12 billion project at its headquarters in
Toulouse in south-central France. Airbus is owned by the European Aeronautic Space and Defense Company, which holds 80
percent, and BAE Systems, with 20 percent.

The superjumbo will be a direct challenge to Seattle-based Boeing`s dominance of the long-haul, high-capacity market with its fleet
of 747s.

Airbus officials had originally said that the company would need around 50 firm orders for the A380 in order to make the project
economically viable.

Last Friday, Airbus reached that target after Virgin Atlantic Airways said it had ordered six jets and taken options on six others in
a deal worth more than $3.8 billion.

Five other airlines have already signed up for the jet. Germany`s Lufthansa AG and British Airways are in talks about buying the
plane.

The biggest order came from Qantas Airlines Ltd., which has been a Boeing client for more than 40 years. The Australian airline
said last month that it would buy 12, making approval of the project almost inevitable.

As well as Qantas and Virgin, Airbus has secured firm orders from Singapore Airlines, Air France, Emirates Airlines, and the
International Lease Finance Corp.

The superjumbo has intensified the rivalry between Airbus, which was created in 1972, and Boeing and highlighted their conflicting
forecasts for air travel in the 21st century.

Airbus says the demand for larger planes is set to grow. It forecasts that the number of airliners in service with 400 seats or more
will rise to 1,235 over the 20 years.

Boeing argues that airlines are more interested in smaller, more efficient planes that have the range to bypass major hubs on their
way to secondary cities. Boeing`s biggest jet at the moment is the 747-400, which can carry 416 passengers.

However, Boeing has come up with plans for a stretch version of its 747 jet, which will seat some 520 people. It has not yet
received any orders for the new jet, which it estimates will cost between $4 and $6 billion to develop.

Airbus has been gradually closing the gap on Boeing since its creation in 1972, and last year reported significantly more aircraft
orders for the first time.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2

Meine Gratulation, Du bist ja "realtime" mit allen Deinen Information. Ich beobachte schon den ganzen Tag Deine interessanten Beiträge hier im Chat und muß Dir ein Kompliment aussprechen über welche Informationen zu verfügst. Ehrlich: Da muß ich noch einige andere Quellen suchen um Diese Threads zu finden.

Deinen Ausführen brauche ich nicht mehr viel hinzuzufügen.

Hinweisen möchte ich noch darauf, daß nun feststeht, daß der ehemalige A3XX - jetzt A380 auf allen größeren Flughäfen - demnach den wichtigsten Verkehrknotenpunkten in der Welt starten und landen kann. Die Modernisierungsmaßnahmen in den Airport`s beschränken sich lediglich auf die halbautomatisch fahrbaren "Gateways".

Nachfrage:
Hat von Euch jemand mehr Info`s über das Thema: 30 Airbus-
Flieger für Aeroflot ...Ich las nur über die Ankündigung einer anstehenden Order von 30 Airbussen - vermittelt und arrangiert durch die französische Regierung - und heute ein Dementi von EADS.

FORWARDER

[Forwarder]

Nachdem nun auch die technischen Daten des A380 feststehen,frage ich mich, weshalb sich Fluggesellschaften
die reine "Cargo Aircrafts" bedienen, noch nicht mit diesem
Fluggerät beschäftigt haben. Denn bei 150 To Fracht (ich
denke daß dies das effektive Gewicht und nicht das chargeable weight ist) wird das heute zur Verfügung stehende Equipment um das 3fache überboten. Das wiederum würde bedeuten, daß heutige Seefrachten (die ja durch Zuschläge, wie BAF, CAF, Interim Fuel Surcharge, General Increase`s etc.) auch nicht mehr zu den Billigheimern gehören u.U. darunter zu leiden haben, daß das Delta zwischen See- und Luftfrachten immer kleiner wird. Stark frequentierte Destination z.B. USA könnten meines Erachtens nach unter Berücksichtigung des Maß/Gewichtsverhältnisses
eher in Zukunft per Luftfracht anstatt per Seefracht bedient werden.

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

RE: forwarder

Vielen Dank fuer die Komplimente, aber die meisten Informationen stammen schlicht aus einer sehr bekannten Finanzseite , den homepages der betreffenden Firmen und von ein paar mailinglists.

Aber Du scheinst Dich in der Branche ja auch bestens auszukennen, drum interessiere ich mich sehr fuer Deine Meinung ueber den seltsamen Streit zwischen Boeing und Airbus bzw. EU und USA ueber die angeblich rechtswidrigen Kredite der EU fuer die Entwicklung der A-3XX. Diese Beschwerde kommt mir schon recht laecherlich vor, wenn man sich ueberlegt, dass die Entwicklungskosten fuer Militaerflugzeuge regelmaessig vom Pentagon uebernommen werden.

Tuesday December 19 5:01 PM ET
Military Plane May Go Commercial

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Air Force proposed Tuesday that Boeing Co.
build a version of the new C-17 cargo plane for the commercial market, with
the stipulation that the planes could be commandeered by the Air Force in
times of war.

The idea is to fill part of what the Air Force calls a gap in the military`s
long-range airlift capacity while meeting one of Boeing`s objectives - to address
a growing commercial demand for air freighters that can deliver extra-large
goods quickly to areas of the world not serviced by major airports or roads.

The commercial version would be called the BC-17X. It would have longer
range and more ability to operate on substandard, remote or congested
airfields.

The Air Force plan, which is still in the works, calls for building 14 of the
commercial cargo planes starting in 2004. Boeing would sell them to
commercial air cargo lines with the understanding that the Air Force could use
them during a military crisis - similar to an existing Air Force arrangement with
commercial passenger airlines.

``The program is very appealing to all parties involved - the Air Force, the
commercial operators, the manufacturer and the American taxpayer,`` said
Darleen Druyun, an Air Force acquisition and management official.

Druyun said the arrangement could save billions of dollars over the life of both
versions of the airplane because it would allow Boeing and is subcontractors to
add BC-17X commercial orders to future production of the military C-17,
keeping the assembly line operating at a more efficient rate.

So far Boeing has delivered 69 of the 120 C-17s the Air Force currently is
authorized to buy. The Air Force wants to extend production to 135 planes.
The 14 BC-17X aircraft would be in addition to those totals.

-

On the Net:

Boeing`s concept of the BC-17X:
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/pd/bc17x/index.html

Air Force fact sheet on C-17:
http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/C-17-Globemaster-III.html

[Gatsby2]

Thursday December 21, 12:55 pm Eastern Time

U.S. Complaint Over Airbus Dismissed

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Europe`s competition chief on Thursday dismissed U.S.
concerns about European government assistance to Airbus Industrie for a new superjumbo jet
meant to challenge the Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) 747`s dominance of the long-haul air travel
market.

Asked about President Clinton`s warning to European Union leaders in Washington this week about financing for the new A380
superjumbo jet, Commissioner Mario Monti said the issue was ``not new`` and had been dealt with in a bilateral agreement signed
in 1992.

The United States believes that the $2.5 billion in long-term loans EU governments are providing to Airbus may violate World
Trade Organization rules. Airbus and the EU`s head office reject the charges.

EU officials say that if Washington were to take legal action against Airbus over the A380 project, they would respond in kind
with challenges to the U.S. government`s award of defense and space contracts to Boeing Co. The European aircraft consortium
is Seattle-based Boeing`s only major rival in the market for commercial jets.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2
re: Rechtswidrige Kreditgewährung an EADS

Von einer Rechtswidrigkeit kann hier überhaupt keine Rede sein. Es ist eine feststehende Tatsache, daß bereits vor dem Boersengang von EADS Gespräche zwischen der EU und USA hinsichtlich einer rechtens anzusehenden Unterstützung, sprich einer Finanzierungshilfe für den A380, gesprochen, verabschiedet und von beiden Seiten mit 1/3 als akzeptabel angesehen wurde. Die einzelnen Details einer solchen bilateralen Zustimmung aufzuführen würde nur Vermutungen gleichkommen.

Was ist eine Vermutung?
Aus der Rechtsprechung wäre es eine Anweisung an den Rechtsanwendenden eine bestimmte Sach- oder Rechtslage zugrunde zu legen, wenn bestimmte Umstände gegeben sind.
Derjenige, für den die Vermutung spricht, braucht nicht
zu beweisen, daß die vermutete Sach- oder Rechtslage besteht.

Umstände wären z.B. daß juristische Personen (z.B. Banken) nicht bereit waren das gesamte Risiko in Höhe von 12 Mrd. EURO zu tragen; oder die EU ein vordergründiges Interesse daran hat, daß sich ein Flugzeugbauer mit europäischen Wurzeln auf dem Weltmarkt etabliert und u.U. ein positives Feedback (so nach dem Motto "europäische Wertarbeit") hinterläßt. Auch im Hinblick auf die Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen ist EADS mittlerweile ein nicht wegzudenkender Arbeitgeber - dessen Produkte man sicherlich nur ungern "importieren" möchte, usw. usw..

Meines Erachtens nach ist der Streit zwischen BOEING und EADS vordergründig rein ökonomisch zu sehen. BOEING nahm diese Kreditfinanzierungsunterstützung zum Anlaß auch seinen Aktionären gegenüber zu dokumentieren, daß alle Mittel eingesetzt werden, das Projekt A3XX zu verlangsamen, bis Interessenten für die verlängerte Version der B747-400 gefunden sind (hier muß man auch sagen, daß Boeing es vielleicht versäumt hat noch vor dem A3XX die verlängerte Version auf den Markt zu bringen - aber was hat sie daran gehindert ????).

Lange Rede - kurzer Sinn; fest steht, daß die Rüstungsaufträge rückläufig sind - wer ist heute schon an einer Auseinandersetzung mittels Waffen interessiert ?! Wenn nicht, dann doch nur um abzuschrecken. Also ist die Quintessenz zum Überleben derartiger Unternehmen sich auf anderen Gebieten zu etablieren und ihr Können unter Beweis zu stellen, sprich in der Luftfahrt- und Raumfahrtindustrie. Und jedes Unternehmen weltweit ist gehalten jedes Jahr mehr an Ertrag zu erwirtschaften, sei es durch neue Produkte, durch Einsparungen über Synergieeffekte, durch Straffung der Hierarchie, durch Personalabbau oder auch mit einer gewissen Konkurrenzfähigkeit.

Zum Schluß empfehle ich BOEING, ein Arbeitsessen mit Alan Greenspan statt der amerikanischen Regierung anzustreben, denn ein "starker" Dollar begünstigt den Kauf eines in EURO zu begleichenden Airbus.

Ich wünsche Dir und allen anderen hier im CHAT ein frohes und geruhsames Weihnachtsfest.
FORWARDER

[Gatsby2]

Saturday December 23 1:06 PM ET
Analysis: Airbus Threat Much Ado About
Nothing?

By Noah Barkin

PARIS (Reuters) - The United States may have spoiled a truly jumbo party in
Toulouse, France this week, but will it go further and risk a nasty transatlantic
trade dispute as well?

The answer, say industry executives and experts on this side of the Atlantic, is
probably not.

The echo of a deftly timed warning on Monday by President Clinton (news -
web sites), who took European government`s to task for their funding of
Toulouse-based plane maker Airbus Industries ambitious A380 superjumbo jet,
may take some time to die down.

After all, that warning marred the launch of what is Europe`s most ambitious
civil aircraft project since the Concorde over a quarter century ago.

Tough talk aside, however, the United States and Europe appear to be heading
down a path of closer industrial ties in the aerospace arena -- a trend which,
experts say, the new administration in Washington is unlikely to reverse.

Advisers to President-elect George W. Bush (news - web sites) have been vocal in their advocacy of free trade
and a more independent European approach to defense.

And while this rhetoric has created some discomfort in European capitals, analysts say a corollary of a less
interventionist U.S. policy may well be a desire to foster closer ties between European and U.S. aerospace firms
with a view to boosting the EU`s own capabilities.

``I cannot see the Bush administration getting overly concerned about the Airbus issue and I understand that even
the Boeing legal team is asking the administration to tread cautiously on the matter,`` said Alexandra Ashbourne,
analyst at the Center for European Reform in London.

``Transatlantic industrial ties are moving forward through joint ventures and we don`t expect any reversal of that.``

Risks For Boeing

At his final U.S.-EU summit on Monday, President Clinton warned the bloc that a new transatlantic trade fight
could erupt over government funding for Airbus` superjumbo program.

The warning came only a day before shareholders gave Airbus the green light to begin production of the
mammoth 555-seat aircraft which will end the de facto monopoly in large aircraft enjoyed by Boeing, the world`s
largest civil plane manufacturer and the top U.S. exporter.

Seattle-based Boeing (NYSE:BA - news), which has yet to receive an order for its A380 competitor -- a 747
derivative dubbed the 747X -- believes European government loans to finance the project violate a 1992 U.S.-EU
treaty and a 1994 World Trade Organization (news - web sites) (WTO) agreement.

A decision to take action against Airbus would fall to the Bush administration, which could file a complaint against
the EU in the Geneva-based WTO.

But such a move would carry serious risks for Boeing and the administration, analysts say.

Not only could a trade dispute spark a hostile reaction from Boeing`s European clients, but Airbus appears to have
a convincing case that Boeing`s civil business benefits from the funding its military arm receives from NASA
(news - web sites) and the Pentagon (news - web sites).

For the Bush administration, already faced with European resistance to its plans for a national missile defense
(NMD) system and worries about its commitment to European hotspots like Kosovo, pursuing the case against
Airbus could put a severe strain on transatlantic ties.

``Relations could rapidly become quite tense if there was a hardening of the U.S. position on Airbus,`` said Philippe
Grasset, Belgium-based editor of a defense newsletter focused on transatlantic relations.

Slowly But Surely

While defense relations between the United States and Europe have had their ups and downs in the wake of the
EU`s decision to proceed with plan`s for their own rapid reaction force, industrial relations have been slowly
improving.

Earlier this month, French defense electronics group Thales (TCFP.PA) and U.S. missile maker Raytheon
(NYSE:RTNa - news) announced they would pool some of their air defense and radar activities into a jointly
owned company.

The venture has been seen as a sign of new-found openness in the United States to cooperation between its
home-grown industry and European defense firms.

The Thales-Raytheon agreement came only weeks after U.S. defense officials approved a $1.67 billion acquisition
by British defense group BAE Systems (BA.L) of sensitive airborne electronics activities owned by Lockheed
Martin (NYSE:LMT - news).

In just a year, BAE has risen to become one of the Pentagon`s top arms suppliers -- a position no foreign-owned
company has ever occupied.

Some experts attribute this openness to a handful of key officials in the Clinton Pentagon, including procurement
chief Jacques Gansler and former deputy defense secretary John Hamre.

But industry leaders in Europe appear confident that a Bush administration -- with former Defense Secretary Dick
Cheney (news - web sites) and retired General Colin Powell (news - web sites), former chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff in key positions -- will continue to encourage closer ties.

``We have no reason to believe there will be any reversal in policy under a new administration,`` Thales Chairman
Denis Ranque told Reuters earlier this month.

[Gatsby2]

Diesmal nicht ganz up to date, aber der Vollstaendigkeit halber sollte es wohl doch noch gepostet werden...

Ansonsten: FROHE WEIHNACHTEN!!

EADS schließt Kooperationsabkommen
mit Moskau

Paris, 18. Dezember 2000
Europa und Rußland werden ihre Zusammenarbeit im Bereich der Luft- und
Raumfahrt ausbauen. Im Beisein der Premierminister von Frankreich und
Rußland, Lionel Jospin und Michail Kasjanow, unterzeichneten Philippe Camus
und Rainer Hertrich, Co-CEOs der EADS European Aeronautic Defence and
Space Company, und Jurij Koptjew, Generaldirektor der russischen Luft- und
Raumfahrtagentur Rosaviakosmos, am Montag ein entsprechendes Abkommen.
Es sieht neben der Ausweitung von bestehenden europäisch-russischen
Programmen der EADS auch neue Kooperationen vor. "Die EADS ist bei
Kooperationen in der Luft- und Raumfahrt Rußlands Partner Nr. 1 in Europa",
kommentierte Koptjew die Unterzeichnung.
Beide Partner werden darauf hin arbeiten, der jeweils anderen Seite den Eintritt
in den eigenen Heimatmarkt zu erleichtern und positive Rahmenbedingungen für
den Verkauf der Produkte zu schaffen. "Die russische Industrie mit ihrer großen
Tradition ist für uns ein wichtiger Partner, um die Herausforderungen der Zukunft
zu bewältigen", sagten Camus und Hertrich. "Viele Aktivitäten, die unsere drei
Gründerfirmen begonnen haben, können wir nun in einem größeren Rahmen mit
voller Kraft fortsetzen."
Die russische Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie und die EADS werden die
gemeinsame Modernisierung und Vermarktung der MiG-29 fortsetzen und
ausweiten. Die EADS-Tochter Eurocopter und die russische Industrie werden
Möglichkeiten zur Zusammenarbeit prüfen. Die gemeinsam vermarktete russische
Trägerrakete Sojus soll mit europäischer Unterstützung weiterentwickelt
werden.
Airbus Industrie untersucht Möglichkeiten, die russische Industrie noch stärker
als bisher in bestehende und zukünftige Airbus-Programme, wie beispielsweise
den Megaliner A3XX, einzubeziehen. Auch an europäischen
Transporter-Programmen soll Rußland beteiligt werden.
Darüber hinaus sieht das Abkommen Training von russischem Personal in
Europa sowie die gegenseitige Zertifizierung von Produkten vor.
Ihr Ansprechpartner:
Gregor v. Kursell

[Gatsby2]

Eine der interessanteren Nachrichten: Nachdem die japanische Luftfahrtindustrie am Ende des 2. Weltkrieges faktisch nicht mehr existierte, zeigen sich in diesem Jahr verstaerkte Tendenzen zu einem Neuanfang. Schon seit einiger Zeit arbeiten Mitsubishi und andere in Kooperation mit Lockheed Martin an Kampfflugzeugen, und jetzt zeigt sich offenbar auch Interesse am Bau von Verkehrsmaschinen. Ich bin mal sehr gespannt fuer welches Grossraumflugzeug sich JAL und ANA entscheiden werden.

Thursday December 28, 1:15 pm Eastern Time

Mitsubishi Heavy to join Boeing super jumbo
project-Nikkei

NEW YORK, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Japan`s heavy machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries has decided to join Boeing`s (NYSE:BA - news) next generation commercial
aircraft project, Japanese financial daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.

Mitsubishi Heavy is likely to shoulder about 100 billion yen (873 million dollars) of the more than 400 billion yen (3.5 billion dollars)
in total development costs for the B747X super jumbo jet series, according to the paper`s Friday electronic edition, monitored in
New York on Thursday.

Mitsubishi Heavy may develop the main wing for the jets and plans to build a new plant in Nagoya with a new investment of about
50 billion yen (430 million dollars) after a formal decision by the U.S. aircraft giant to manufacture B747X.

Mitsubishi Heavy and Boeing formed a comprehensive alliance in May.

[Gatsby2]

Milliardenauftrag fuer EADS

Frankreich hat EADS einen Auftrag zur Entwicklung seegestuetzter Langstreckenraketen im Wert von 2,81 Mrd. Euro erteilt.

http://public.wsj.com/sn/y/SB978042186314983791.html

[Forwarder]

An alle im Chat: Ein gutes Neues Jahr, viel Erfolg und Gesundheit.

@Gatsby2
Zurückkommend auf Deinen "Lufthansabeitrag" möchte ich hier anmerken, daß die LH in den nächsten Tagen zu einer Entscheidung über die Investitionen von Großraumflugzeugen (Boeing 747Long oder A380)kommen will. Der Bedarf bestünde ab 2007 - der A380 soll ab 2006 ausgeliefert werden.

Hierzu ist jedoch anzumerken, daß die Deutsche Lufthansa mit Wirkung vom 14.9.2000 der "größte" Kunde von Boeing war. An diesem Tag wurde ihr der 375. B747 geliefert. Sollte sich die Deutsche Lufthansa ausschließlich für Airbus entscheiden, dürfte es eine markante Wende am Markt geben. Denn Boeing wird alles daran setzen Lufthansa weiterhin als größten Kunden zu halten und zufriedenzustellen. Wenn LH die Boeing Long-Version nicht
ordert dürfte dies ein eindeutiges Signal für AIRBUS sein.

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: forwarder

Quantas war auch ein 100%iger Kunde von Boeing, und sie haben dann doch die A-380 bestellt. Umsomehr muesste eigentlich ein europaeisches Unternehmen wie Lufthansa geneigt sein, den neuen Airbus vorzuziehen. Zumal fuer diese Maschine eine wesentlich bessere Effizienz erwartet wird.

Eine weitere Rolle moegen auch die Preise am Gebrauchtflugzeugmarkt spielen, der gerade fuer Lufthansa immer eine gewichtige Rolle spielte. Darum erscheint das nachfolgende feature von Reuters besonders lesenswert zu sein:

Tuesday January 2, 6:32 pm Eastern Time

FEATURE-Airline assets hit as 747s depreciate

By Bradley Perrett, European airlines correspondent

LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Heavy depreciation of Boeing 747-400s, the most valuable civil
aircraft flying, has wiped billions of dollars from airline assets in recent years.

``The 747-400 is experiencing the severest test of its existence -- a competitor and potential
replacement,`` said the specialist magazine Aircraft Value News last year as Airbus
[ARBU.UL] began marketing its A3XX superjumbo while Boeing (NYSE:BA - news)
unveiled a bigger 747 to replace its current long-haul work horse.

The capital loss seems not to show up in airline share prices because airlines are rarely valued by the sum of their assets. But the
value lost as 747-400s have depreciated did belong to shareholders.

Almost all 747-400s are effectively owned by the airlines that operate them, so little of the loss of capital has been borne by
lessors, which specialise in supplying other types.

Industry specialists say that while aircraft routinely lose value as they age, the 747-400 lately seems to have exceeded even the
quite quick depreciation that airlines factor into their profit-and-loss accounts.

VALUATION

Airlines are normally valued according to their prospective profits. Typically, analysts assess the value of their capital (enterprise
value) as a multiple of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and aircraft rentals.

The shareholders` value in the company is determined by deducting the stakes of other capital contributors -- the debt holders and
leasing companies.

Alternatively, one could add the value of a firm`s assets and then deduct debt -- a so-called sum of the parts valuation.

If analysts did do that, then declining aircraft valuations would show up in share prices, because assets would be lower.

But that method involves an awful lot of work, and it stumbles on whether to include valuable runway slots that many airlines do
not actually own, so airline analysts rarely use it.

One analyst defended the logic of profit-based valuation.

``From my point of view, 747 depreciation doesn`t change anything for shareholder value, unless you sell the aircraft,`` said Credit
Lyonnais Securities analyst Phillipe Gossard.

Providing the airline could generate traffic -- measured by multiplying paying passengers by the distance they travel -- then it did
not matter what the planes were worth, he said.

``The aircraft is just a way to provide your revenue-passenger kilometres.``

Another analyst, who asked to remain unnamed, disputed that.

To him, falling value of capital equipment had to mean falling profits from it. So it was a shareholders` concern.

$20 MILLION CAPITAL LOSS PER PLANE

According to the industry consultancy Avmark International, a new passenger-carrying 747-400 was worth $152 million on
delivery in 1997.

Reflecting general expectations in the industry, the firm forecast then that such a plane would still be worth $148 million in 2000,
said Avmark analyst Barbara Byer.

In fact, such a plane was worth just $116 million in 2000, having unexpectedly lost $32 million of its value because of the 1997-98
east Asian recession, new competition from Airbus and airlines` growing tendency to fly smaller planes.

Early 747-400s built in 1989 are each worth about $10 million less now than was expected before the slump in values began
around 1997, according to Avmark figures that suggest an unexpected depreciation of $20 million for a typical -400.

Another industry expert also saw an unexpected slump in value but thought it was a little smaller.

``What they can get on the market for a 747-400 is maybe $10 to 15 million less than they might have been expecting three years
ago,`` said Dick Forsberg, an aviation-finance adviser from consultancy IAMG.

HUGE EXPOSURES

Airlines` exposure can be huge. Two carriers have colossal fleets of more than 50 747-400s in service or on order: British Airways
Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BAY.L) and Singapore Airlines Ltd .

For each of those airlines, unexpected depreciation of $20 million per plane implies a capital loss exceeding $1 billion.

The fading popularity of the 747-400 is evident in Boeing`s sales book. Most recent orders have been for freighters.

A few months ago the biggest 747-400 user of all, British Airways, was trying to sell four of its planes to Singapore Airlines
affiliate Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd [VA.UL].

But earlier in the year Alitalia had ordered five -- which it decided to cancel in November. Virgin then stepped in to buy the
distressed stock from Boeing, rebuffing British Airways, which is still looking for buyers.

Second-hand sales of 747-400s are rare, but there was more insight into the market a couple of years ago when Qantas picked up
three fairly new 747-400s for, according to industry sources, less than $100 million each.

Admittedly, the Australian airline bought six new 747-400s last month, suggesting continued demand for new planes, but that order
covered a new long-range sub-variant that Qantas has been very keen to acquire for its trans-Pacific services.

ASIAN RECESSION, NEW COMPETITION

At first, the lack of demand for the 747-400 seems odd, since it is widely accepted as the most efficient airliner flying. If a 747-400
can stretch its legs on a long-range mission, it can move seats more cheaply than any other plane.

But reasons for the recent loss of value are easy to find.

The 747-400 typically flies to east Asia, much of which pitched into a severe recession in 1997. Economies have recovered, but
the current volume of traffic to and from the region is less than had been expected a few years ago.

So airlines must need fewer 747s than they thought.

Then in late 1997 Airbus began marketing a near competitor: the A340-600, which seats 380, only 40 fewer than the jumbo.

Meanwhile, sales of Boeing`s 777-200ER have built up. That big twin-jet seats only 300 passengers but flies as far as a 747-400
and at not much greater cost per seat.

Boeing has argued that passengers would be happy to pay more for tickets if airlines used the smaller plane to offer more frequent
services, or direct services that by-passed hubs.

``Boeing have been very successful in competing with themselves with the 777,`` said Forsberg.

Finally, in May 2000, Airbus began marketing a plane that does the 747-400`s trunk-route job more cheaply: the 555-seat A3XX.
The European manufacturer has since sold 44 of them.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2
Ja, Du hattest recht - dieser Artikel bestätigt zum Teil
meine "Vermutungen" von vor einiger Zeit und birgt meines
Erachtens nach wieder neue Aspekte, die man die ganze Zeit außer Acht gelassen hat oder weil man einfach die Zahlen im einzelnen nicht kannte.

Wie Du sicherlich schon gehört hast, hat der DIW in seinen Prognosen für das Jahr 2001 die EZB indirekt dazu aufgefordert die Zinsen zu senken. Dadurch hätte EADS wieder den Export-Vorteil!. Gleichermaßen sehen wir wie auch in Deinem Artikel schon angedeutet einer eventuellen "Rezession" oder anders (feiner) ausgedrückt einer weichen Landung der Wirtschaft entgegen. Das wird in den USA sicher der Fall sein; in Asien haben Sie zwar mit anderen Problemen - aber der gleichen Wirkung - zu kämpfen.

Boeing hat heute in einem Thread bekanntgegeben, daß in den Folgejahren auch mit rückläufigen Orders im Zivilfluggerät zu rechnen ist. Nun dem zur Folge ist verbal wieder eine Parität zu EADS hergestellt. Jetzt kommt es meiner Meinung nach auf die Restrukturierungsmaßnamen an, die seitens EADS vorgenommen und u.U. zu beschleunigen wären.

Was sagst Du zu den "Hamburgern" und den wegzuprozessierenden Arbeitsplätzen ??? Da kann man nur sagen "Typical by Germany" !

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: forwarder

In puncto Restrukturierung stimme ich Dir voll zu, aber eine weiter unten gepostete Nachricht gibt mir Hoffnung, dass EADS auf dem richtigen Weg vom Konsortium zum Konzern ist.

Zu Hamburg fallen mir als typisch deutsch vor allem die dauernden Querelen mit den Bau- und Umweltbehoerden ein. Es zeugt schon von erheblicher staatlicher Ignoranz, wenn Genehmigungsverfahren, die in U.S.A. in 3 bis 5 Monaten abgeschlossen sind, hier um die 2 Jahre dauern. Beim Thema "Staatliche Investitionshindernisse" koennte ich ohnehin in Hasstiraden verfallen. Aber solange in Deutschland das Berufsbeamtentum und dessen parteiuebergreifende Mehrheiten in den Parlamenten nicht endlich abgeschafft werden, kann ich mir jedes weitere Wort dazu sparen.

Laestig sind natuerlich auch die arbeitsrechtlichen Hindernisse, aber die duerften bei dem Projekt in Hamburg eher ein Fall fuer die Portokasse sein. So einzigartig ist Widerstand der Arbeitnehmer allerdings nicht. Auch in den U.S.A. hat es dieses Jahr sowohl bei Raytheon, als auch bei Lockheed, als auch bei Boeing Streiks gegeben, wobei vor allem letzterer - der Streik der Ingenieure bei Boeing - nachhaltige Auswirkungen auf bestimmte Programme hatte. Interessant war allerdings die Reaktion von Raytheon auf den Streik in Massachussetts: innerhalb von 3 Wochen nach Streikende war die Haelfte der Streikenden gefeuert.

Zum Abschluss noch eine nette Nachricht fuer EADS: Auch in Taiwan ist das Liefermonopol von Boeing nun gebrochen. TVA bestellt erstmals Airbus!

Wednesday January 3, 6:11 am Eastern Time

Taiwan`s EVA Air to buy, lease 8 Airbus A330-200s

(UPDATE: Adds details para 3 and 5)

By Alice Hung

TAIPEI, Jan 3 (Reuters) - EVA Airways said on Wednesday it would buy two Airbus
A330-200 wide-body passenger jets and lease six more, breaking Boeing`s stranglehold on the
Taiwan carrier`s fleet.

EVA, an affiliate of transportation conglomerate Evergreen Marine , said in a statement the first delivery was slated for March
2003.

The two A330-200s that EVA is buying would have a catalogue price of about $250 million, before discounts.

The airline has an all-Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) fleet of 36 jets - eight 767s, 16 747s and 12 MD-11s. The new Airbuses will be
powered with GE CF680 engines, the same used in its 747s and 767s.

Most A330s are powered by engines from Rolls-Royce Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: RR.L) or United Technologies Corp
(NYSE:UTX - news) unit Pratt & Whitney, but airlines commonly choose powerplant types already in service on other planes in
their fleets.

EVA bought 15 Boeing 777s in June 2000 and plans to take delivery of one 747 cargo plane in 2001 and another in 2002.

EVA said the 261-seat A330-200s -- all equipped with personal video systems -- would replace its eight 767s, currently used for
Asian routes.

``The introduction of the Airbus 330-200 into our system, and the planning and preparation we are investing in development of our
fleet over time will upgrade service quality and competition in our passenger and cargo markets,`` EVA senior vice president K.W.
Nieh was quoted as saying in the statement.

Nieh denied the purchase was to prepare for future direct air links with China.

``We don`t pin hopes on something that is unpredictable. We can easily buy more planes when the need arises,`` Nieh told Reuters.

On Tuesday, three vessels from Taiwan`s frontline islands of Quemoy and Matsu sailed directly to the Chinese mainland, marking
a small but symbolic step towards establishing full trade, transport and postal links between the rivals.

But it was not clear when broader links, including direct air links, between Taiwan and China would take place.

AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION

EVA, which began operating in the early 1990s, has aggressively expanded its operations.

The airline became one of the world`s first carriers to buy Boeing`s newest long-range 777 passenger jets when it signed the US$3
billion deal in June.

The deal included a firm order of three 777-200X and four 777-300X and options for eight more jets as well as spare parts.

Airbus is a partnership of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. NV (EADS) and Britain`s BAE Systems Plc (quote from
Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L).

Despite surging jet fuel prices, EVA enjoyed a prosperous 2000, raising its profit forecasts twice due to a rebound in the travel
market and a buoyant cargo market.

EVA last raised its forecast for 2000 pretax profits in December, saying it expected to make T$2.536 billion, up 26.2 percent from
an earlier projection.

Sales for 2000 were seen at T$54.476 billion.

EVA shares, listed on the over-the-counter TAISDAQ market, closed down T$0.55, or 3.75 percent, at T$14.1 due to
profit-taking, against a 0.98 percent rise in the TAISDAQ (^TWOII - news) market.

EVA shares had rebounded 15.2 percent from a low of T$12.5 on September 30 to a high of T$14.4 on December 31, while the
TAISDAQ fell 38 percent during the same period.

(US$ equals T$33)

[Forwarder]

Re: Gatsby2

Ja, wo die Asiaten Recht haben, haben Sie Mittel denen auch Nachdruck zu verleien.

Übrigens, EVA Air ist, wie Du unschwer erkennen kannst mit der Marine Ship Evergreen mehr oder weniger verheiratet. Evergreen ist eine der heute mit am Markt stärksten Seereedereien überhaupt. Du siehst auch an diesen Info`s,
daß aufgrund meiner in jüngster Vergangenheit getätigten Aussagen (See ./. Luftfracht) auch ein nicht unwesentlicher Aspekt ausser Acht zu lassen ist. So wie sich heute die Luftverkehrsgesellschaften im innereuropäischen Flugverkehr dem Straßenverkehr (Nachtsprung-LKW`s zwischen den Airports) bedient, so wird sich mit unter in kommender Zeit der Reeder sicherlich auch den Großraumflugzeugen bedienen. Denn nicht immer wird nur hohes Gewicht (im Seeverkehr zählt das Maß-Gewichtsverhältnis = 1 cbm entspricht 1 to) befördert, sondern auch großes Volumen mit wenig Gewicht. Und dadurch, daß die Seefrachten, CAF`s, BAF`s, Interim Fuel Surcharches, Terminal Handling Charges usw. usw. steigen und steigen kann es u.U. der Break-Even erlauben Güter günstiger zu fliegen als zu verschiffen. Dabei spielt auch der Zeitfaktor eine Rolle.

Kurz zum Schluß. Gestern hatte ich noch die Zinsen erwähnt. Die Zinsen wurden in den USA gesenkt - die EZB hat die Zinsen auf dem alten Stand belassen - das hat sowohl einen positiven als auch einen negativen Effekt. Der Kurs der Aktie steigt - der Währungsvorteil schwindet (der EURO steigt).

Gruß - Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: Forwarder

Hey, hey, Du scheinst Dich ja im Frachtgeschaeft recht gut auszukennen. Da haette ich direkt mal `ne Frage: Was kosten 3.000 Tonnen Hanf FOB Saigon nach Hamburg? Hast Du irgendeine Idee, wo ich die Information herkriege?

Auch sonst hast Du mit Deinem Hinweis auf Fracht gut gelegen, wie der nachfolgende Link zeigt. Das Wallstreet Journal wusste heute zu berichten, dass Airbus kurz von dem Abschluss mit FedEx ueber 10 A-380 zum Listenpreis von 2,3 Mrd. $ steht. Check it out:

http://public.wsj.com/sn/y/SB978651309570618548.html

[Forwarder]

Re: Gatsby2

Ist überhaupt kein Problem Dir die marktüblichen Raten für den Transport Saigon - Hamburg zu benennen (FOB Saigon bis frei Ankunft Seehafen Hamburg oder Port Point Hamburg, d.h. Door Delivery Duty unpaid !?).

Nenne mir bitte noch das Volumen und das Ladehilfsmittel(d.h. palettiert oder als Ballenware - Länge x Breite x Höhe in mm pro Losgröße), sodaß ich ermitteln kann, welches
Ladevolumen benötigt wird. Ferner wäre es von Vorteil, wenn Du mir mitteilen könntest, wann der Transport zeitlich über die Bühne gehen soll und in welche Tranchen (d.h. Komplett die 3.000 tons oder als Teilladungen);denn zur Zeit sind temporär und periodisch festgelegte Zuschläge zu berücksichtigen.

Forwarder

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2

Zum Artikel FedEx...

jetzt fehlen noch die Orders von United Parcel Service,
TNT Group und DHL World Wide Courier... dann hätten wir zumindest die größen Courierdienste unter Dach und Fach.

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: Forwarder

Ich habe versucht, Dir in Sachen Hanf ein mail via W:0 zu schicke, weiss aber nicht ob ich durchgekommen bin.

Gruss
Gatsby

[Gatsby2]

Hey, Forwarder,

Du scheinst hellseherische Faehigkeiten zu entwickeln. Zwar sind es keine A-380 800, aber die
Order kann sich trotzdem sehen lassen:



Tuesday January 9 3:51 PM ET
UPS Orders 60 Airbus A300-600 Freighters

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Reuters) - Package hauler United Parcel Service Inc.
(NYSE:UPS - news) said on Tuesday it had ordered 60 Airbus Industrie
(ARBU.UL) A300-600 freighters for $6 billion, taking options for 50 more.

The order, UPS`s biggest ever, will expand the company`s current fleet of 238
freighters and throw a lifeline to the A300, Airbus`s first airplane line. The
order backlog for the A300, which was first delivered in the 1970s, had shrunk
to just 23 from a previous UPS deal.

The order also helps Airbus get more of its foot in the door at Atlanta-based
UPS, the world`s largest package delivery company, which now operates 231
jets built by Airbus rival Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) and seven wide-body A300-600s.

UPS last October said it would accelerate A300 deliveries under a previous order for 30 with 30 options. The
carrier cited a growing need for wide-body, short-haul freighters for regional routes outside the United States.

The freight hauler last November said it would buy at least 13 pre-owned MD-11 wide-bodies from Boeing, which
would convert passenger jets to cargo configuration in a $2 billion deal.

During the third quarter, UPS`s international export volume climbed 23 percent from a year earlier, the company
said in a release.

Boost For Airbus Freighters

Airbus had previously booked just 68 orders for A300 freighters since launching the program 1991 with an order
from FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX - news).

The UPS deal -- Airbus`s biggest freighter sale yet -- boosts total orders to 128. With 45 delivered so far, the
backlog grows to 83.

``The A300 is clearly an airplane that the cargo market has found fits its needs,`` said Airbus spokesman David
Venz.

Yet Airbus has no plans to accelerate A300-600 production, which currently stands at just one per month at the
company`s assembly plant in Toulouse, France.

Airbus is a partnership of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) (EAD.DE)(EAD.PA), and
Britain`s BAE Systems Plc (BA.L).

For Boeing, the order was a setback in the burgeoning market for cargo planes. The 767 wide-body is roughly the
same size as the A300, but Boeing said UPS had not been asked for a competing offer for a new freighter.

``That happens on occasion when options are being exercised,`` said Boeing cargo spokesman Bob Saling. ``UPS
will continue to buy Boeing airplanes. They are a good Boeing customer.``

A UPS spokeswoman said the carrier looked at several options for new and used freighters, but declined to say
specifically what companies were involved.

``Airbus was selected because it provided the best combination of what we need operationally and then, of course,
the economics of the deal,`` said UPS spokeswoman Patti Hobbs.

The A300s will be delivered over a nine-year period, with the current 23 on order slated for delivery in 2001 and
2002.

Cargo Market Booming

Boeing planes until now have dominated the cargo market, with an array of orders for jumbo 747 freighters and
converted smaller passenger jets.

But Airbus is building a double-decker 555-seat A380, which will eclipse the 416-seat 747 as the biggest
commercial jet in the world and has generated significant interest from freight haulers.

Cargo carrier Atlas Air Inc. (NYSE:CGO - news) said last month it might add the A380 to its fleet of 37 747s, but
was also considering a proposed stretch 747X freighter from Boeing.

The 747X stretch would seat over 500 passengers, but Boeing has not officially committed to building it.

Atlas Chairman Michael Chowdry also said he would first decide on an order for smaller freighters, citing the
A300-600 and the 767 as possible candidates.

Both Airbus and Boeing see huge growth in the world cargo fleet. Boeing has predicted a near doubling of cargo
planes to 3,200 from 1,676 over the next 20 years, with converted passenger jets providing most of the supply.

Airbus has forecast 700 new freighter orders over that period, an estimated $100 billion market.

[Gatsby2]

;(

Oh, keine schoene Nachricht: Arianespace macht EU 200M Verlust. Und 2001 duerfte es kaum besser werden ...

Wednesday January 10, 6:06 am Eastern Time

Arianespace puts 2000 loss at over 200 mln euros

PARIS, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Tough price competition pushed Arianespace into the red by over 200 million euros last year, the
European space launch group said on Wednesday.

In an overview of Arianespace activities in 2000, its President Jean-Marie Luton said heavy investments in the consortium`s
high-performance, high-cost Ariane-5 rocket launcher also contributed to the group`s loss, which compares to a modest 7.3 million euro profit registered in 1999.

Revenues rose 10 percent to 1.1 billion euros in 2000, returning to the level attained in 1998.

``On the financial front it was a difficult year, characterised by strong pressure on prices,`` Luton said.

In the market for heavy commercial satellites, Arianespace competes against International Launch Services (ILS), which is controlled by Lockheed Martin
(NYSE:LMT - news), and Sea Launch, which is headed by Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - news).

These two joint ventures have been successful using more basic and less costly Soviet-designed launch vehicles.

That success has led some people to question the commercial viability of the powerful Ariane-5 rocket, which was introduced in December 1999.

Luton said he expected the number of Ariane-5 launches to increase gradually from five next year to eight in 2004.

In 2001, Arianespace expects to launch 16 satellites in 11 launches, six of which will utilise Ariane-4 rockets. In 2000, 12 satellites were launched from the Kourou
launch pad, which sits on the northern tip of South America in French Guiana.

Arianespace has 53 shareholders, including government space agencies that design and finance new programmes and companies that are subcontracted to projects.

French space agency Centre National d`Etudes Spatiales, or CNES, is the leading shareholder with a 32 percent stake.

European aerospace group EADS holds nine percent, while EADS`s majority owned satellite maker Astrium holds 16 percent and engine-maker Snecma eight
percent.

[Gatsby2]

... und noch eine lustige Nachricht. Schon die Ueberschrift ist ziemlich laecherlich ...

Wednesday January 10, 2:28 pm Eastern Time

US says not trying to stop Airbus superjumbo jet

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The United States is not trying to discourage sales of the
new European superjumbo jet Airbus A380, but does want to make sure that government loans
are provided on commercial terms, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

``We are not trying to stop the A380. What we saying is that should be a commercial decision and it should be supported in a
commercial way,`` a U.S. trade official told reporters ahead of staff level talks on Thursday between the United States and the
European Union.

In December, U.S. President Bill Clinton warned the EU that a new transatlantic trade could erupt over European government
funding for the Airbus superjumbo.

Loans by Germany, France and Britain are expected to cover about one-third of the plane`s estimated $10.7 billion development
cost.

After years of preparation, Airbus launched the A380 project in December in a bid to dethrone the Boeing (NYSE:BA - news)
747 as the world`s largest passenger jet.

``It`s fine for government to support things. But we want to make sure that support is provided on commercial terms and does not
run afoul of the rules of the WTO (World Trade Organization) on subsidies,`` the U.S. official said.

The EU argues its government support for Airbus is legal under a 1992 EU-U.S. bilateral aircraft agreement.

The United States says the WTO rules on subsidies apply to government funding for Airbus, regardless of the 1992 pact.

Despite Clinton`s warning last month, U.S. officials said their hope is to defuse a potential conflict.

European government financing terms won`t be set until May, giving the United States an opportunity to ``present our views and
hopefully have those views taken into account before any final decisions are made,`` the U.S. official said.

The discussions will include officials from the U.S. Trade Representative`s office, as well as from State, Commerce,
Transportation and Treasury Departments.

The European delegation will include representatives from the European Commission, as well as member states.

U.S. officials say they have ample reasons to question the terms of European government loans for Airbus, which controls about
50 percent of the civilian aircraft market.

``If you look at the past record, there were all kinds of interest-free loans or very low interest rate loans`` in addition to other
financing arrangements shielding Airbus from commercial risk, the U.S. trade official said.

The official rejected the argument that European government support for commercial Airbus projects is matched by U.S. research
and development grants for the development of new military aircraft by Boeing and other firms.

European governments provide similar support for Airbus military projects, but there is no U.S. counterpart for Europe`s civilian
aircraft loans, the official said.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2

Sorry, dass ich mich schon lange nicht gemeldet habe.

Leider kam Dein e-mail nicht an.

Gib mir eine Kommunikationsadresse an die Hand, wie
ich Dich erreichen kann.

Zu den 50 Orders von UPS ... - DHL FedEx TNT kommen auch
noch - denke an mich!

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: Forwarder

Ich muss mal sehen, ob ich noch irgendwo eine anonyme email finde; die laufen auf meinen Namen. Sobald mir eine eingefallen ist, poste ich sie.

Einstweilen news zum Streit um Subventionen fuer den Zivilflugzeugbau. Diesmal war die EU mit ihren Anschuldigungen an der Reihe:

Friday January 12, 2:38 pm Eastern Time

EU says U.S. funding for Boeing may break pact

BRUSSELS, Jan 12 (Reuters) - European Union officials on Friday batted back U.S. charges
over funding for European aircraft maker Airbus [ARBU.UL] by alleging that subsidies for
U.S. rival Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) may break an agreement between the two sides.

In EU-U.S. talks on civil aircraft funding held in Washington on Thursday, the EU raised concerns over alleged U.S. subsidies for
Boeing, saying these may have exceeded the limit set in a 1992 agreement between the two sides on civil aviation funding.

``There are...indications that we have that Boeing is receiving in excess of the 3.0 percent of annual turnover in the form of
subsidies that is permitted by that agreement,`` an EU official said.

Outgoing U.S. President Bill Clinton warned the EU last month that a new transatlantic trade fight could erupt over European
government funding for the planned new Airbus superjumbo, expected to be a third of the $10.7 billion development cost.

The new Airbus superjumbo poses a threat to Boeing`s 747.

The EU hit back, maintaining that Boeing receives indirect subsidies through programmes financed by the U.S. military and
NASA, the U.S. space agency.

EU sources said they estimated that in 1998, indirect government subsidies to Boeing totalled around 7.5 percent of the company`s
turnover, far higher than the 3.0 percent permitted under the 1992 bilateral agreement.

The EU raised concerns at the Washington talks over ``pressure that might be applied by the U.S. government on third countries in
terms of their purchases of certain types of aircraft,`` the EU official said.

An EU source suggested Washington may have used its influence in the past to press Israel to buy Boeing planes.

EU officials said EU governments had not yet taken firm financial commitments for financing part of the development costs for
the Airbus superjumbo.

But they pledged to provide the figures to the United States as soon as the financial package had been agreed.

The EU says European support to Airbus is in the form of repayable loans, not subsidies and that the superjumbo aid will
scrupulously respect the 1992 agreement.

U.S. officials said on Wednesday that the United States was not trying to discourage sales of the new European superjumbo but
did want to make sure that government loans were provided on commercial terms.

The EU invited U.S. officials to hold another round of bilateral consultations in July in Brussels but there was no immediate
response from the United States, EU officials said.

[Gatsby2]

Die Financial Times hatte Freitag einen kleinen Artikel ueber Versuche der U.S.A., ein Geschaeft von Airbus Industrie im Iran zu Fall zu bringen.

Sanctions `hit Iran orders for Airbus`
By Guy Dinmore in Tehran
Published: January 11 2001 20:46GMT | Last Updated: January 11 2001 20:58GMT

US sanctions on Iran threaten to cost Airbus Industrie a
substantial sum in lost orders for new aircraft, according to
Iranian media and industry officials in Tehran on Thursday.

State-owned Iran Air on Wednesday took delivery of an Airbus
A300 from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that is 12 years old
and disclosed plans to buy another eight second-hand,
medium-range aircraft within the next six months from the UAE
and Turkey.

The Kayhan newspaper quoted Ahmad-Reza Kazemi, managing director of Iran Air, as
saying the aircraft was the best deal that Iran could achieve in terms of technology and
finance, considering sanctions imposed on the country.

His comments indicated that Iran Air had been unable to proceed with a planned purchase of
eight A330s from Airbus, a European consortium.

European industry officials in Tehran said the US was trying to block the Iranian deal on the
grounds of US engine content. Airbus has declined to comment on the issue, which western
diplomats in Tehran describe as highly sensitive.

Iran Air announced in October 1999, during a visit by President Mohammad Khatami to Paris,
an agreement worth about $1bn to buy four A330s and an option to buy four more. Airbus
has not confirmed the deal but its books list an order of four A330s for an "undisclosed
destination".

President Bill Clinton, citing Iran as a threat to national security, issued an executive order in
1995 that prohibits virtually all trade between the US and Iran. In 1993 Mr Clinton blocked a
$1bn sale by Boeing to Iran.

Boeing has lobbied the US administration to lift the sanctions. George W. Bush, who takes
over the US presidency on January 20, is expected to take a more sympathetic attitude to US
companies trading with Iran.

[Gatsby2]

Extremer Nachzuegler. Schon im November hat Griechenland 60 Eurofighter bestellt. Bloss die PR-Abteilung von EADS hat`s offenbar verpennt. (Jaja, ich auch)



Greece orders 60 Eurofighters
By Mary Fagan












News - Eurofighter

Press releases -
BAE Systems





EUROFIGHTER, the four-nation military aircraft consortium in which BAE
Systems is a partner, is set to win an order from the Greek government for up
to 90 aircraft in a deal worth about £3.5bn.

The order, which is the first export deal for Eurofighter, has been won in the
face of fierce competition from Dassault of France, which for the last few
months has lobbied Greece to take its Rafale fighter planes.

The decision by the Greek government, which is expected to buy 60
Eurofighters with options on a further 30, is a blow to the French who were
originally part of Eurofighter but opted to go it alone. There had been fears in
the UK that the intense lobbying by French industry and government over
summer and early autumn would undermine Eurofighter`s position as preferred
supplier.

The Greek deal, which is expected to be announced within the next three
weeks, will help the consortium`s efforts to win further orders from countries
including Australia, Singapore and South Korea. The four Eurofighter member
states, which also include Germany, Spain and Italy, are buying 620 aircraft of
which the UK accounts for 232. Deliveries to the Royal Air Force will begin
in 2002.

The Greek order will be seen as a boost for BAE Systems, formerly known as
British Aerospace, and its partners Dasa of Germany, Alenia of Italy and
Casa of Spain. Final assembly of the UK aircraft will be carried out at the
group`s Warton site near Preston in Lancashire but BAE also builds front
fuselages, wings and tail planes. BAE also has a major role in the radar
system, Captor.

Britain, which needs the Eurofighter to replace the Tornado F3 aircraft, is
expected to be responsible for about 36 per cent of the work on Eurofighter.
Germany is the second largest partner with 30 per cent with Italy and Spain
taking 20 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. When production is at its
peak, the programme is expected to create about 200,000 new European jobs
among the member companies and their sub-contractors.

Eurofighter was dogged by problems in its early days, not least the decision by
France in 1986 to withdraw from the programme and prolonged uncertainty
over the commitment of the German government. Now BAE is also keen to
ensure it and the rest of the UK aerospace industry capitalises on the US Joint
Strike Fighter, which will replace several existing fighters deployed by various
sections of the US military.

The JSF, to which Britain also contributes, is seen as one of the most
important weapons programmes for decades and are expected to cost less
than Eurofighters. Although the European consortium never comments on
price, the aircraft are thought to fetch just under £30m each. BAE has been
asking the UK government to secure substantial involvement in the JSF for
British industry before it contributes any more to the development.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby
So, jetzt hat FedEx geordert!

Jetzt fehlen noch UPS, DHl und TNT - was meinst Du
wie lange wir noch warten müssen ???

Ich denke bis März diesen Jahres werden wir noch
einiges hören.

re: e-mail-adress
Ich probiere heute noch Dir eine e-mail über W:o zu posten,
wenn das auch nicht funktioniert, dann wäre mein Vorschlag
sich in einem Chat-Room zu treffen!

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: Forwarder

Danke fuer die Testmessages - sind beide gekommen, aber leer. Macht nix, denn mittlerweile ist mir eingefallen, dass wir fuer`s erste meine YAHOO-mailbox nehmen koennen:

[e-mail]

Ansonsten hast Du mit FedEx mal wieder richtig gelesen, ob allerdings alle anderen US Frachtlinien nachziehen werden, wird sich noch zeigen. Vielleicht kauft der eine oder andere ja doch die 747X, zumal es jedenfalls theoretisch moeglich ist, dass Boeing einen Teil der Entwicklungskosten in den R&D bzw. E&M-Kosten fuer den Nachfolger fuer die KC-135 versenkt.



Fuer alle, die die Nachricht ueber den FedEx-deal gern etwas ausfuehrlicher lesen moegen:


Tuesday January 16 1:50 PM ET
FedEx Orders the Airbus Superjumbo

By Simon Hirschfeld

NEW YORK (Reuters) - FedEx Corp.`s (NYSE:FDX - news) FedEx Express
unit said on Tuesday it would buy 10 of the A380 aircraft planned by Europe`s
Airbus Industrie (ARBU.UL) in a deal valued at $2.3 billion at list prices,
becoming the first U.S. carrier to order the new superjumbo, long-range
aircraft.

Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx, the world`s No. 2 package shipper,
provides another key launch customer for the A380, which will be the largest
commercial aircraft yet built.

As a launch customer, FedEx received a discount from list prices, but FedEx
and Airbus executives did not disclose the value of the carefully negotiated
contract. Discounts on launch orders for the A380 are believed to run as much
as 30 percent.

FedEx said it would take delivery of 10 A380-800F aircraft beginning in 2008,
although it hoped to begin receiving them sooner. The new planes will exceed
the capacity of FedEx`s current workhorse MD-11 long-range freighters.

``The A380 will be capable of flying directly between Asia, Europe and our
hubs in the U.S. with nearly twice the payload of the MD-11,`` Frederick Smith,
FedEx`s chief executive, said.

``Rather than operating daily multiple MD-11 aircraft from these markets, we
will be able to operate with a single aircraft, the A380, with unit costs expected
to be substantially lower than with the MD-11.``

As a launch customer, FedEx executed a memorandum of understanding that is
subject to the execution of a definitive purchase agreement.

The FedEx order bolsters Airbus`s case that the large aircraft is needed as the
market for international passenger and cargo traffic grows.

``Six months ago there were fears in the market that Airbus would get 40 to 50
launch orders for the A380 and then hit a dry spell,`` said Andrew Thomson,
analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in Paris. ``These orders that are now
coming in will increase market confidence that such a gap in orders is unlikely.``

The order is also the latest blow to a competing aircraft planned by Seattle`s
Boeing Co.(NYSE:BA - news), a larger version of the 747. Boeing had hoped
cargo carriers, many of which have been solid 747 customers in recent years,
would prefer the bigger version of its jumbo jet to Airbus`s A380.

Fedex Looked At Boeing Option

FedEx studied its options for very large, long-range aircraft for two years. It
looked at buying new, larger 747 aircraft proposed by Boeing, Airbus` rival
maker of commercial jetliners and freighters.

``We considered a variety of options, including the Boeing 747X Stretch, but
none met our anticipated demands in the international air cargo market as
efficiently as the A380-800F,`` Smith said.

FedEx plans to take delivery of three A380s each year from 2008 to 2010, and
one in 2011. FedEx also holds options from Airbus for an undisclosed number
of additional A380s.

FedEx will see a significant rate of return on its investment in the new aircraft,
which will lower costs and increase revenue, Alan Graf, FedEx`s chief financial
officer, said in an interview.

In addition, the aircraft could be loaded and unloaded in the same amount of
time as the MD-11 -- 23 minutes -- executives said, an attractive feature for
efficiency minded FedEx.

A key difference between the Airbus aircraft and the proposed Boeing 747X
related to the containers that FedEx uses to transmit cargo, according to David
Bronczek, president of FedEx Express.

The A380 freighter`s three levels perfectly fit FedEx`s standard 8-foot
containers, while the Boeing 747X would be better suited to 10-foot containers
on its two decks, Bronczek said. FedEx studied switching to an expandable
container, but decided against it.

A number of international airlines have already collectively committed to up to
50 A380s, and several more carriers are considering possible orders, including
U.S. cargo shipper Atlas Air Inc. (NYSE:CGO - news).

FedEx shares gained 92 cents to $42.42 in trading Tuesday afternoon on the
New York Stock Exchange (news - web sites). Boeing shares lost 1/4 to
$60-3/8.

Airbus is a partnership of European aerospace group EADS (EAD.PA) and
BAE Systems Plc (BA.L). EADS shares closed up 1.35 at 22.60 euros in
Paris, while BAE shares lost 1-1/2 to 262-7/8 pence in London.

[Gatsby2]

Wird hier jemand nervoes?

Tuesday January 16 5:22 PM ET
FedEx Order Heats Up Superjumbo Battle

By Chris Stetkiewicz

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Airbus Industrie ARBU.UL stretched its lead over rival
Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) in the superjumbo jet market, snaring its first
U.S. customer in Tuesday`s sale to package shipper FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX
- news).

Boeing still sees room for its entry in the embryonic market for megajets, but it
is sticking to its cautious approach to what it considers a niche market.

Hailed by Airbus Chief Executive Noel Forgeard as ``a major milestone`` for
the $10.7 billion A380 project, FedEx`s order for 10 three-story freighters
boosts launch orders to 60 and extends the European plane-maker`s North
American presence.

Boeing has yet to land a passenger or freighter order for its proposed 747X
stretch, booking only one order for a family of upgraded 747s -- six
longer-range 747-400s to Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AX), which also ordered
12 A380s last November.

Boeing officials have quietly watched the A380 orders pile up, publicly
reiterating that they see demand for less than 400 airplanes seating over 500
passengers -- plus a smaller amount of freighters -- over the next two decades.

The 747X would seat up to 522, while the A380 seats 555 in its standard
configuration. Airbus has predicted it would sell nearly 800 A380s in the next
20 years, worth a whopping $180 billion at the list price of $230 million per unit.

The FedEx order shows that freight haulers, especially those not currently
flying 747s, may prefer the all-new A380, which promises to cut trip costs and
slash duplicate flights.

Container Size Does Matter

FedEx officials noted the 8-foot high containers it uses on its MD-11s fit
perfectly on the A380, while the 747 works best with 10-foot pallets.

But Boeing, and some aviation analysts, believe 747 operators will prefer to
stay with the model.

``For FedEx, the A380 fits better in their fleet,`` said Bob Dahl, a consultant at
Air Cargo Management Group.

``But when the A380 freighter goes into service, there will be 300 747
freighters in service, giving Boeing a great head start in the large capacity
freighter market,`` Dahl said.

The head of another potential 747X customer, Atlas Air Inc. (NYSE:CGO -
news), has expressed concern that Boeing was dragging its feet on the
freighter model.

Michael Chowdry, president of the U.S. carrier which operates 37 747s, told
Reuters on Monday he was leaning toward ordering 15 A380s.

``Until we have a definite plane, it`s difficult to make comparisons,`` Chowdry
said at a cargo conference in Dubai.

Customer Feedback Wanted

Boeing on Wednesday kicked off a two-day symposium to hear feedback from
20 potential 747X customers, plus would-be suppliers and partners, at its Seattle
headquarters.

Kicked off by Boeing Chairman Phil Condit, the meetings follow similar talks
last June and will help the aerospace giant understand what customers want
before committing to the 747X, with an estimated development cost of $4
billion.

``This underscores that we are serious and we are committed,`` said Boeing
spokeswoman Barbara Murphy. ``We have top designers committed to this
project.``

Still, the FedEx order was a major coup for Airbus, Dahl said. Despite reports
that launch customers are receiving fat discounts of up to 30 percent, the A380
is building momentum.

``Boeing needs to get some major customers of its own to ensure the viability
of its own 747X freighter,`` Dahl said.

But unlike the passenger market, where the public relations value of flying
shiny new A380s could help spur residual orders beyond the launch group,
cargo haulers may not feel compelled to follow FedEx`s lead.

``Shippers don`t really care what type of airplane their packages go on, they just
care about service,`` Dahl said.

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby und an alle

Sicherlich werden noch einige andere nervös. Denn durch den
Zusammenschluß von United und US Air werden Aufträge die US Air an Boeing und Airbus vergeben haben u.U. nicht mehr abgerufen. Equipment, das gefertigt wurde, wird wahrscheinlich noch von United übernommen, aber die restlichen Orders (bei Airbus immerhin Gesamtauftrag 45 Maschinen) können u.U. storniert werden.

Des weiteren wird sich bei der Neustrukturierung und Neuorientierung des Fuhrparks von United und US Air etliches gebrauchtes Fluggerät frei, sodaß die Gebraucht-Flugzeugpreise in den Keller gehen.

re:Gatsby - versuche jetzt zu mailen.

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Ich fuerchte, dass der Markt fuer gebrauchte Flugzeuge in Zukunft noch weiter belastet werden wird, denn die Rationalisierung durch M&A bei den Airlines faengt wohl gerade erst an. Die zukuenftige Entwicklung duerfte z.B. recht interessant werden.

Ein Verlust der Order von United waere natuerlich schade, aber offenbar sind andere US-Fluglinien gern bereit bei Airbus zu kaufen:

Wednesday January 17, 5:22 pm Eastern Time

Northwest Orders Airbus, Boeing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Northwest Airlines has ordered 24 Airbus A330s and 20 Boeing
(NYSE:BA - news) 757s with a combined list price of nearly $5 billion to replace its aging
fleet of McDonnell-Douglas DC-10s.

Announced late Tuesday, the order for the 302-passenger planes made by France`s Airbus Industrie and the 223-passenger,
narrow-body planes made by Boeing Co. of Seattle would cost $5 billion at list prices. Northwest did not disclose what it will pay
for the jetliners. Boeing said its share of the Northwest Airlines order is worth $1.75 billion.

The order ends months of speculation about who would win the contest between Airbus and Boeing to replace Northwest`s
wide-body DC-10s, which fly both international and domestic routes. The bigger A330s -- which carry a list price of about $135
million each -- will be used for trans-Atlantic flying while the 757s -- listed for about $85 million each -- will be used domestically.

The McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 went out of production in the mid-1980s. Most of the DC-10 models now in Northwest`s fleet
were manufactured between 1972 and 1975 and need to be replaced during the next five to 10 years. The three-engine planes
seat 273 to 290 passengers.

Delivery of the twin-aisle A330s will begin in 2003 and run through 2006, Northwest said. The single-aisle 757s will begin to arrive
in 2002 and continue through 2004.

Northwest already had 16 A330s on order from a deal struck in the early 1990s, but the delivery dates have not come due.
Despite the previous order, the airline announced last year that Airbus and Boeing were both in contention for replacing the
DC-10s.

Northwest said it obtained attractive financing from the manufacturers. But the carrier also said it will take a $125 million
write-down in the fourth quarter to reflect the fair market value of retired aircraft and related parts.

``These new aircraft are an important part of our commitment to our customers and our people,`` Northwest CEO and president
John Dasburg said in a news release.

In addition to the order to replace the DC-10s, Northwest said it will acquire two more Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets and six
additional Airbus A319s, which seat 124 passengers. Northwest already flies 14 of the latest 747s and had 19 A319s in its fleet as
of late last year.

Among major airlines in the United States, Northwest operates what is easily the oldest airplane fleet. Of the 418 jetliners
operated by Northwest as of late last year, 172 were twin-engine McDonnell-Douglas DC-9s. The DC-9s seat 78 to 125
passengers depending on model and are used on short and medium trips. Most of the DC-9s flown by Northwest were
manufactured in the late 1960s and 1970s.

[Gatsby2]

Bestimmt nicht kursrelevant, aber trotzdem eine schoene Nachricht:

Dienstag 16. Januar 2001, 17:17 Uhr

Briten wollen Concorde schon bald wieder in die
Luft schicken

British Airways beginnt mit Umrüstung - Tanks werden mit
Hartkunststoff verstärkt - Air France hält sich bedeckt

London/Paris (AP) British Airways will die Concorde schon in diesem Frühjahr
wieder in die Luft schicken: Die britische Fluglinie erklärte am Dienstag, ihre sieben Überschallmaschinen würden
für mehr als umgerechnet 90 Millionen Mark umgerüstet. Als Konsequenz aus der Katastrophe von Paris im Juli
sollen die Tanks mit dem Hartkunststoff Kevlar verstärkt werden. Die Arbeiten an der ersten Concorde hätten
schon begonnen. Air France erklärte dagegen, es sei noch zu früh zu sagen, ob die Concorde jemals wieder fliegen
werde.

Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, Vorstandsmitglied der französischen Fluggesellschaft, äußerte zugleich die Hoffnung, dass
die Flüge mit der Concorde wieder aufgenommen werden. Dann wolle Air France wieder ihre
Überschallverbindung zwischen New York und Paris anbieten. Das Flugzeug sei wirtschaftlich zu betreiben, die
Sicherheit habe aber absolute Priorität.

Nach Angaben von British Airway verliefen Tests mit Computersimulationen erfolgreich. Die Anpassungen sollen
Ende Januar an einer Concorde der Air France auf dem Militärstützpunkt Istres ausführlich geprüft werden. Die
französische Luftfahrtbehörde DGAC erteilte am Dienstag eine Ausnahmegenehmigung für die Überführung einer
Überschallmaschine von Paris nach Südfrankreich.

British Airways teilte weiter mit, 51 Millionen Mark sollten in technische Verbesserungen gesteckt werden, 42
Millionen würden für neue Sitze und Kabineneinrichtungen sowie weitere Serviceverbesserungen aufgebracht.

Zur Verbesserung der Sicherheit sollen die Tanks verstärkt werden, die am 25. Juli den bisherigen Ermittlungen
zufolge nach dem Auftreffen von Teilen eines geplatzten Reifens kurz nach dem Start in Paris auf Grund einer
Schockwelle von innen heraus zerstört wurden. Die vom EADS in Toulouse hergestellte
Kevlar-Gummi-Auskleidung für die Tanks sei in Anlehnung an Formel-1-Rennwagen und Militärhubschrauber
konzipiert, erklärte British Airways. Sie soll sicherstellen, dass auch bei einem Durchschlagen der Tragfläche kein
Kerosin austritt. Zudem sollen die Fahrgestelle verstärkt werden.

Nach den Versuchen am Boden in Istres wird eine umgerüstete Concorde von British Airways zu einem Testflug
starten. Dabei sollen Daten gewonnen werden, wie sich die neuen Tankauskleidungen auf das Treibstoffsystem
auswirken.

Bei einem Erfolg will British Airways den Angaben zufolge immer zwei Concorde-Flugzeuge gleichzeitig umrüsten.
40 Techniker seien etwa acht bis zehn Wochen mit einer Maschine beschäftigt, hieß es. Wenn die
Luftfahrtbehörden die Änderungen akzeptierten und es keine unvorhergesehene Probleme gebe, «wird erwartet,
dass die Concorde ihre Fluglizenz wieder erhalten wird», erklärte die Airline.

Ab Frühjahr mit Überschall von London nach New York

Sie hoffe, bereits im Frühjahr eine tägliche Überschallverbindungen zwischen London und New York anbieten zu
können. Nach Umrüstung weiterer Maschinen soll dies auf zwei Flüge ausgedehnt werden. «Wir haben immer
gesagt, dass British Airways den Concorde-Betrieb nur wieder aufnehmen würde, wenn wir der Überzeugung sind,
dass wir das sicher tun können. Wir sind zuversichtlich, dass die nun vorgenommenen Veränderungen dies erreichen
können», erklärte British-Airways-Manager Mike Street.

Die Überschallmaschinen der BA wurden den Angaben zufolge seit August einem täglichen Check unterzogen, bei
dem die Triebwerke angeworfen und die Computer- und hydraulischen Systeme überprüft wurden. Die
Besatzungen trainierten regelmäßig im Flugsimulator.

[Gatsby2]

Das Wallstreet Journal hatte gestern ein feature ueber Wege der Gewichtsersparnis und andere neuartige Technologien beim Bau des neuen Superjumbo. Pflichtlektuere fuer jeden, der sich fuer die A-380 und deren Vorteile gegenueber einer potentiellen 747-X interessiert.

http://public.wsj.com/sn/y/SB979859840361082960.html

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2
Danke für Deine Message. Habe bereits mit ein paar Insidern bezüglich Rohstoffhandel gesprochen. Habe auch einen Ansprechpartner in HoChiMing - Stadt (Saigon).

Melde mich kurzfristig.

Forwarder

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2
bitte prüfe doch Deine Mailbox.

Hast Du Dir heute mal die Umsätze in Paris und Frankfurt
angesehen. Das Joint-Venture im Hinblick auf den 9 Mrd.
GBP-Auftrag würde meiner Meinung nach die besten Orders
von Boeing übertreffen.

Ich hoffe es klappt.

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

Re: forwarder

Vielen Dank fuer die mail, die mich sehr gefreut hat.

Die Umsaetze bei EADS sind mir aufgefallen, aber der Hintergrund war mir noch nicht klar.

Im uebrigen glaube ich, dass in naechster Zeit eher die spekulativere Haelfte meines Depots interessant werden wird. Darum konzentriert sich mein Interesse auch eher auf Werte, wie z.B. diesen:

Thread: Illinois Superconductor (Nasdaq-OTC:ISCO.OB)

[Forwarder]

@Gatsby2

Habe den Thread angeklickt. Muß Dir leider mitteilen, daß
ich von diesem Papier noch nie etwas vernommen habe. Werde
mich aber mal damit beschäftigen.

Im übrigen muß ich Dir sagen, daß ich eher ein Anleger in konservativen Papieren bin und öfters mal zwischendurch trade - wie z.B. bei LH, wo du zwischen 23 und 25 hervorragend traden kannst.

Genauso gut ist momentan Telefonica oder etwas spekulativer
Thyssen (Kursziel 22 €/Dividende 0,75 € - Termin März `01).

Bis vor kurzem hat sich EADS auch dazu angeboten, jedoch liegt es auch an der Jahreszeit (Mitte Januar bis Mitte März sehr spekulativ).

Als Alternative schlage ich Dir u.U. Short Put-Optionen oder Covered Call`s vor - ist auch ein interessantes Betätigungsfeld.

Forwarder

[Gatsby2]

RE: Forwarder

Ja, ISCO ist in der Tat hochspekulativ. Aber wie sagt man so schoen: no risk - no fun.

Aber wir scheinen generell unterschiedliche Strategien zu haben. Von trading halte ich mich ebenso fern, wie von Optionen. Ich kaufe nur "the real thing" und nur dann, wenn ich mir mittel- bis langfristig was davon verspreche. Im Hinterkopf tickt natuerlich immer der Gedanke "Kein Mark dem Staat".

Schliesslich noch ein kleiner Link zu den Dingen, die die Konkurrenz von EADS so treibt. (Im Volltext hab ich es auch in meinem Lockheed thread, weiss aber nicht, ob Du den liest).

http://nationaldefense.ndia.org/article.cfm?Id=423

;>)

[Gatsby2]

Auch interessant. EADS uebernimmt das Upgrade fuer fremdgefertigte Produkte ...


EADS Awarded Spanish P-3 Upgrade Contract
Friday, January 26, 2001 06:11:07 PM - Phillips Business Information

Jan. 26, 2001 (Defense Daily International, Vol. 2, No. 4 via COMTEX) -- WASHINGTON--The
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. [EAD] last week was awarded a $160 million contract
to upgrade the Spanish air force`s Lockheed Martin [LMT] P-3B maritime patrol aircraft after having
beaten out Lockheed Martin, Boeing [BA], Raytheon [RTNA/RTNB], and Spain`s Indra for the
program, according to a company spokesman.

EADS was selected for the P-3 upgrade program last year. The decision was approved by Spain`s
cabinet in December.

Under the program, EADS will integrate its FITS mission system into the P-3Bs, as well as new
radars, electronic support measures, identification friend-or-foe interrogators, acoustic systems, Link
11 datalinks, very- and ultra-high frequency communications systems, inertial navigation and GPS
systems. The first updated aircraft is to be delivered by the end of September 2003.

EADS will also provide integrated maintenance support for the aircraft through 2008. EADS` military
transport aircraft division, which is based on Spain`s former CASA, is the lead for the Spanish P-3
upgrade program.

EADS was formed last year through the merger of DaimlerChrysler [DCX] Aerospace, France`s
then-Aerospatiale Matra, and Spain`s then-CASA.

Lockheed Martin is the original manufacturer of the P-3, while Raytheon has been selected for P-3
upgrades in the past in Australia and New Zealand.

Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are also taking part in the U.S. Navy`s Multi-mission
Maritime Aircraft program to find a possible replacement for the P-3 along with Northrop Grumman
[NOC].

Indra, meanwhile, is a Spanish defense electronics company that has provided avionics and simulators
for the Spanish air force.

[Gatsby2]

Ergebnisse von Airbus

... leider bis jetzt nur als link ...


http://public.wsj.com/sn/y/SB980761706710775207.html

[Gatsby2]

Vielleicht nicht allzuviel unmittelbar zu EADS (abgesehen vom letzten Satz), aber sehr viel zur zukuenftigen Entwicklung im internationalen Aerospace/Defence-Geschaeft.

Wednesday January 31 3:47 PM ET
Boeing Sees Global Defense Mergers

By Bradley Perrett, European aerospace & defense correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) on Wednesday
endorsed BAE Systems` (BA.L) forecast that mergers could produce two or
three transatlantic defense giants within 10 years.

``I do think it is likely to happen,`` Boeing Chairman and Chief Executive Phil
Condit told Reuters in an interview.

``It certainly is one (possibility) that has a lot to recommend it.``

Top industry executives believe U.S.-based Boeing and Britain`s BAE, the world`s biggest defense contractor, are
obvious partners if their governments can agree major international mergers in this most nationalist of industries.

BAE group marketing director Charles Masefield said on Tuesday that transatlantic mergers were likely because
of the need to share limited defense budgets and especially because European firms needed access to the U.S.
market and technology.

But the defense industry has always been managed by its customers, the governments, and little can happen until
they become comfortable with greater reliance on foreigners for weapons.

``I think they are close,`` said Condit.

``It seems to me there is a lot of benefit in that process (of transatlantic consolidation).``

``I think there is a lot of positive things for governments to think about as they wrestle with this.``

Boeing, Bae Habitual Partners

Condit would not say whether BAE was his preferred partner, but he describe the advantages of consolidation
among companies that habitually work together -- which Boeing and BAE do.

``If you sit down with someone and work with someone, that is a very positive force,`` he said.

``You get to know how they work. You get to know their strengths and weaknesses and so the predictability of
the (arrangement) gets better.

``But that is not the only path`` to consolidation, he noted.

While Boeing and BAE are often fierce competitors, they have a long history of cooperation. BAE has twice
licensed McDonnell Douglas, which Boeing absorbed in 1997, to build British planes for the U.S. Navy and
Marines.

Like BAE, Condit said transatlantic mergers would bring greater competition to each market -- the United States
and Europe -- while creating bigger markets for the companies.

It would also help U.S. and European armed forces to work together, overcoming the current problem of their
being equipped with incompatible weapons and systems.

Technology is another driving force behind transatlantic consolidation, since European weapons are often less
advanced than U.S. equipment.

Conceivably, the United States could reject consolidation and instead expect European countries to buy advanced
equipment from U.S. manufacturers.

But Condit said that approach would result in Europeans sticking with their own systems, falling further behind.

Governments Unenthusiastic

The U.S. government has so far shown little enthusiasm for continental European defense companies.

While BAE is a significant Pentagon (news - web sites) supplier, and has been permitted to buy extremely
sensitive operations from U.S. defense group Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT - news), no continental
company has a significant military business in the United States.

And at least one continental government, that of France, shows equally little enthusiasm for U.S. connections.

One senior defense source said last week that Paris saw serious problems with U.S. equity in French defense
firms.

But Thales SA (TCFP.PA), one of the two main continental companies with defense interests, is French. The
other, European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co NV (EADS) (EAD.DE)(EAD.PA), is roughly half French.

However, Thales last month sealed a joint venture with U.S. defense firm Raytheon Co. (NYSE:RTNa - news) in
ground-based air-defense systems. EADS is developing a relationship with Northrop Grumman Corp.
(NYSE:NOC - news) and has some connections with Lockheed.

[Gatsby2]

Und nochmehr Hintergrund, aber diesmal direkt zu einem wichtigen Deal:

Flexibility is key to big UPS A300 deal

Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC

The United Parcel Service (UPS) contract to purchase up to 90 additional Airbus Industrie
A300-600 freighters has a clause allowing the package delivery carrier to substitute A380s or
other aircraft over the period of the 12 year deal.

The $6 billion firm order for 60 freighters will keep the Toulouse A300-600 production line
active until at least May 2009 and, if UPS exercises options for a further 50 aircraft, this will
extend to 2012. The new deal is in addition to 30 A300-600Fs ordered in 1998 and supersedes
UPS` earlier options on 30 aircraft. Deliveries of the new aircraft commence in February 2003.

Given the longevity of the deal, UPS says the contract provides it with an option "to substitute
new technology or swap to other aircraft types". Airbus in the past has looked at a range of
avionics and powerplant enhancements to modernise the A300/310, but these appear to have
been eclipsed by as yet unsuccessful efforts to launch the proposed A330-500 as a successor.

The UPS deal also includes the "possibility" of substituting the much larger A380F for the
A300-600, though the package delivery company cautions that this does not constitute part of
"today`s plan". Observers suggest this could change as a consequence of UPS` chief rival
FedEx deciding to launch the A380 F.

A final decision on the choice of engines for the A300-600is expected shortly, with the Pratt &
Whitney PW4158 and General Electric CF6-80C2 in contention. The deal would include an
after-sales fleet management contract. UPS` initial consignment of A300-600s, of which seven
are now in service, are PW4158 powered.

The 50t capacity freighter will be mainly employed by UPS to expand its inter-regional
operations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, freeing larger freighters for intercontinental
flights from the USA.

The company recently concluded a deal with Boeing to take 13 converted MD-11 freighters
from late this year. These will be employed on long-haul routes to Europe and Asia,

UPS says initial planning has called for the additional aircraft to augment rather than replace its
present fleet in order for it to cater for growth in demand - outbound international freight from
the USA climbed by 23% in the third quarter of last year. The Louisville-based carrier currently
has a fleet of 238aircraft, including Boeing 727s, 747s, 757s, 767s and Douglas DC-8s.

A day after announcing its largest aircraft order ever, UPS unveiled plans to purchase US
freight forwarder Fritz for $450 million. The deal, the first such acquisition of a freight
forwarder by a carrier, is of strategic importance to the company as it will secure a potentially
large new feed of freight and a larger customs broker.

Further good news for UPS has come in the shape of US Department of Transportation
confirmation that it has been selected as the fourth US carrier to serve China, after prolonged
debate and much lobbying on the part of the air transport industry. UPS has been granted six
weekly round trip flights for all cargo services from Ontario, California and Newark via
Anchorage to Beijing and Shanghai from April.

China in 1999 agreed to 10additional frequencies for US carriers, of which two have been
allocated to United Airlines and one a-piece to its fellow incumbents Northwest Airlines and
FedEx.

[Gatsby2]

KLM says Airbus jumbo on shortlist
Dutch airline looking to replace Boeing 747-300`s

By Raymond Frenken, FTMarketWatch
Last Update: 8:36 AM ET Feb 1, 2001

Newswatch
Latest Headlines
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AMSTERDAM (FTMW) - Dutch airline KLM (KLM: news, msgs) is
considering the Airbus A380 "Super Jumbo" as a possible replacement for
its 13 ageing Boeing 747-300`s, a company spokesman said on Thursday.

The A380, which has yet to be built, will be able to seat more than 500
people and is expected to overtake Boeing`s (BA: news, msgs) 747 as the
world`s biggest commercial jetliner.

"Anything that can fly long-distance is an option, including the A380," KLM
spokesman Bart Koster told FTMarketWatch.

The value of KLM`s replacement order, which
will either go to Airbus or Boeing (BA: news,
msgs) , will likely exceed $3 billion.

Other intercontinental jets that the Dutch
carrier is reviewing are the Airbus 330 and 340,
and Boeing`s 747-400, 777 and the new
767-400, which was recently ordered by KLM-partner Kenya Airways,
Koster said.

The Dutch carrier plans to make a decision on renewing its fleet later this
year, the spokesman said. All options are currently being reviewed, he said,
while a formal plan will be presented to the board within the coming
months.

When Airbus in December made the decision to build the A380, KLM
(928043: news, msgs) indicated it wasn`t very interested in adding the
world`s biggest commercial plane to its fleet. But as an increasing number
of international airlines are placing orders for the A380, the Dutch carrier`s
position appears to be changing.

Unlikely as first choice

The spokesman for KLM underlined though that the A380 is unlikely to
become the carrier`s first choice, and said other jetliners should also be
considered as serious options.

"The A380 is on our list, but not at the top," Koster said. "If we want to
grow, we would in first instance prefer to do so by adding flight frequencies,
instead of by introducing bigger planes."

The carrier`s apparent interest in the A380 can also be seen in the light of
possible negotiations with Boeing. If KLM appears to be inclined to order
jets from Airbus, it may be able to negotiate a better price at Boeing.

Airbus already has received orders for more than 50 A380`s and recently
said it expects at least another 50 orders this year. See story.

Depending on the version, it can seat between 555 and nearly 1,000 people.
The first flight is planned for 2004, with delivery scheduled for 2006, Airbus
said in December. See full story.

KLM said its new planes would have to last for the next 20 to 30 years.

KLM`s U.S. partner Northwest (NWAC: news, msgs) earlier this month
decided to order 52 new aircraft. Its fleet renewal consisted of a mix
between jets from Airbus and Boeing. See full story.

Airbus is 80-percent owned by the European Aeronautics, Defence and
Space Co., also known as EADS (938914: news, msgs) (005730: news,
msgs) . The remaining 20 percent is held by BAE Systems (BA: news,
msgs) of the U.K.

KLM earlier today reported a net profit of €4 million for its fiscal third
quarter, which was better than a loss of at least €8 million that analyst had
expected. See earnings story.

[Gatsby2]

So einfach war es selten - ein Post fuer zwei Threads:

EADS enters UK air control bidding
By Kevin Done, Aerospace Correspondent
Published: February 2 2001 20:15GMT | Last Updated: February 2 2001 20:27GMT


Europe`s biggest aerospace group has entered the bidding for control of the UK`s air traffic
control system.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space company has taken a 10 per cent stake in the
Nimbus consortium led by Serco, the UK facilities management group, which has been
regarded as a front runner to acquire a 46 per cent stake in National Air Traffic Services.

The EADS entry has brought a surprise late element into the bidding, and was agreed only
shortly before last Wednesday`s deadline for submitting final, binding offers.

EADS, the world`s third-largest aerospace and defence group after Boeing and Lockheed
Martin of the US, was formed last year as part of the consolidation in Europe`s aerospace
sector with the merger of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace of Germany, Aerospatiale Matra of
France and Construcciones Aeronauticas of Spain.

The French government holds a 15 per cent stake in EADS, with a further 15 per cent held
by the Lagardere group of France and 30 per cent held by DaimlerChrysler, the German
automotive group.

The EADS entry will strengthen the Serco-led Nimbus consortium. Nimbus had been hit by
the withdrawal - at least temporarily - of PPM Ventures, the private equity arm of financial
services group Prudential, which was its main financial partner.

Neither EADS nor Serco would comment on the Franco-German group`s entry into the
bidding, although it is understood that EADS is keen to expand its services operations.

The rival bids to Nimbus are from the Novares consortium led by Lockheed-Martin and
Airways Corporation, the New Zealand state-owned air traffic services provider, and the
Airline Group comprising eight UK airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and
British Midland.

[Gatsby2]

Thursday February 8, 6:02 am Eastern Time

FedEx says Airbus A380 quantum leap over Boeing jet

PARIS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The head of FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX - news) said on Thursday
the company had committed to purchasing a freighter version of the Airbus A380 superjumbo
because the plane was light years ahead of Boeing Co`s (NYSE:BA - news) competing jet.

Frederick Smith, chief executive of the world`s number two package shipper, told reporters at a briefing here that the Airbus plane
offered roughly 40 percent more cargo space -- 39,000 cubic feet versus 27,500 -- than the Boeing 747 stretch cargo plane.

He said the Airbus (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L) plane was also more attractive in terms of range and fuel burn.

``The Boeing 747 stretch was simply not as attractive,`` Smith said. ``The A380 was a quantum leap above it in terms of efficiency.
It was a new design and a complete step up versus the Boeing plane.``

Smith said the deadline for sealing a definitive contract for the A380 was the end of June, but said a detailed memorandum of
understanding (MOU) would probably pave the way for an earlier signing.

The A380, Smith said, will allow FedEx to transport roughly 150 tonnes over a distance of 6,000 nautical miles. By comparison, the
MD-11, which is the company`s largest plane at present, has capacity for 80 tonnes and range of 4,000 nautical miles.

Smith, who declined to say how much FedEx was paying for the Airbus planes, said that performance guarantees on range and
fuel burn were written into the MOU with Airbus.

Separately, Smith said FedEx would not be interested in purchasing an Airbus A330-200 freighter, a plane the Toulouse-based
manufacturer said last month it planned to launch soon, for several years.

[Gatsby2]

Und wieder eine Nachricht der interessanteren Sorte: vor etwa 4 Wochen hat Mitsubishi Boeing eine Milliardenbeteiligung an den Entwicklungskosten fuer die B-747X im Gegenzug fuer die Beteiligung als Tragwerkszulieferer angeboten. Die Gewerkschaften bei Boeing drohten daraufhin mit Streik. Und jetzt will Mitsubishi bei der A-380 zum Zuge kommen. Merkwuerdiges Spielchen ...



Thursday February 8, 10:23 pm Eastern Time

M`bishi , Fuji Heavy mull Airbus A380 output

By Mitsuo Suzuki

TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Japan`s largest heavy machinery and engineering firm Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries Ltd said on Friday it was considering taking part in production of Airbus
Industrie`s 555-seater giant A380 jet airplane.

``We are considering an offer from Airbus Industrie without violating our comprehensive contracts with Boeing Co (NYSE:BA -
news) (on its B747X superjumbo jet),`` a Mitsubishi spokesman said.

Airbus Industrie asked five Japanese parts makers to take part in the production of the 555-seater giant A380 jet airplane, which
was designed to end the de facto monopoly inlarge aircraft enjoyed by Boeing, the world`s largest civil plane manufacturer.

The five aircraft component makers are Mitsubishi Heavy, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd , Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd , Japan
Aircraft Manufacturing Co Ltd and ShinMaywa Industries Ltd .

Comment from Airbus Industie was not available immediately.

Fuji Heavy, which is 21 percent owned by General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM - news), also received a request from Airbus and will
consider taking part in the A380 production, a Fuji Heavy spokesman said.

Fuji Heavy supplies core parts connecting the wing and fuselage, and the main landing gear door for B777s.

``If Boeing does not make a giant jet like the Airbus A380, Airbus A380 will be a monopoly. We don`t want to miss a business
chance,`` the Fuji spokesman said.

But three other Japanese aircraft component makers had pessimistic views on participating in the output of the A380, due to their
strong ties with Boeing and slow sales of A380s.

``We have no idea on what we will respond to Airbus A380 project. But we have close ties with Boeing and output of new Airbus
airplane will require a huge investment,`` a Kawasaki Heavy spokesman said.

Japan Aircraft received a request from Airbus on A380 output but it will not participate as a risk-share partner, a Japan Aircraft
spokesman said.

Japan Aircraft supplies nose landing gear doors for B777s and wing ribs for B777s and B767s and elevators for B757s.

Airbus had a courtesy call at ShinMaywa early February but had no talks on A380, a spokeswoman for ShinMaywa said.

ShinMaywa produces fairings for B777s.

Airbus has deals with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd for wing components for the A319 and A320 and rear cargo doors for
A330 and A340, and with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd on fuselage panels of A321.

But three others -- Fuji Heavy, Japan Aircraft and ShinMaywa -- had no deals with Airbus in the past.

In January, French aircraft maker Airbus Industrie plans to form a Japanese unit this spring to strengthen sales and ties with
aircraft components makers in Japan, aiming to boost sales in Japan.

Airbus Industrie currently supplies aircraft to All Nippon Airways Co Ltd (ANA) and Japan Air System Co Ltd (JAS). JAS has
36 A300 aircraft and ANA has 25 A320s and seven A321s.

But Japanese airlines had no purchase contract for the Airbus A380 yet.

In late November last year, rival Boeing Co won a deal for 11 widebody jets, includingeight 777-200ERs and three 767-300ERs
worth a total $1.6 billion from Japan Airlines.

The Airbus A380 is expected to start flights in 2006.

Shares in Mitsubishi Heavy were up 2.39 percent at 472 yen in Friday morning trade. ShinMaywa`s shares were up 2.41 percent
at 170 yen. Japan Aircraft`s shares were up 1.4 percent at 217 yen. Kawasaki Heavy`s shares were down 1.71 percent at 115
yen. Fuji Heavy`s shares were down 1.64 percent at 841 yen.

[Gatsby2]

Das Wort zum Sonntag - heute von Boeing.

Saturday February 10 12:31 PM ET
Boeing Says Superjumbo Plans Firm

By Chris Stetkiewicz

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Despite losing the first several rounds in the fight to sell
a new generation of superjumbo jets, Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) officials
still say their 747X will fly by 2005, reeling in customers over time.

Rival Airbus Industrie ARBU.UL`s 555-seat double-decker A380 has grabbed
headlines, and 60 launch orders, while Boeing has tinkered with its more
modest plan to add about 100 seats and more range to its 416-seat 747-400.

After a recent customer symposium helped Boeing refine its design, the 747X
plans are nearly complete and officials at the Seattle-based aerospace giant are more convinced than ever that
they can find enough customers to build it.

``The airplane is really very firm,`` 747X program manager Walter Gillette said in an interview on Thursday. ``The
engine sizing is firm, from both engine companies, thrust requirements are firm, the wing is firm. We are doing the
last wind tunnel tests now.``

Gillette and 747 program general manager Walter Orlowski did not say how many orders it would take to launch
the plane, adding that the board of directors had not set a minimum. But they still expect to launch it this year as
part of a remarkably specific schedule.

``We have a program plan that says first flight will be on Dec. 17, 2004. That`s the 101st anniversary of the
Wright Brothers` first flight. It`s a Friday,`` said Gillette at Boeing`s Everett, Wash., wide-body jet assembly plant.

Government certification comes on Aug. 1, 2005, with the first delivery in September 2005, according to the plan.

``We are following that plan, following every step of it and we will pick up our launch customers along the way,``
Gillette said.

A380 No Quantum Leap

Boeing officials were ``disappointed`` to see seven customers sign up for 60 A380s before the sale of even one
747X. But many of those buyers were drawn to the colossal size of the Airbus jet, while most jumbo operators will
need jets seating 400 to 500 passengers, Gillette said.

``Airbus`s airplane is really sized for getting bigger. The 747X has a 7,000-square feet area wing. The A380 has a
9,000 square-foot area wing. So the A380 really wants to start at its current size and go up. (Airbus) are betting
the market is going to be large for a very large airplane,`` Gillette said.

Other than the size, the A380 offers no major technological advance over the 747X, Orlowski said, countering
remarks on Thursday by FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX - news) Chief Executive Frederick Smith, who said the A380
was ``a quantum leap`` more efficient.

``On the wing technology, engine technology, systems technology, flight qualities -- there is no technological
improvement that we couldn`t make or haven`t made,`` Orlowski said.

``It (A380) is a leapfrog in size, but I think it ends right there. The fuel burn per seat is just about the same. I don`t
know of any piece of technology that Airbus has on the A380 that is a leapfrog,`` Orlowski added.

All-New Wing, Engines, Landing Gear

The 747X will sport an all-new wing and landing gear plus one of two new engine models -- the Rolls-Royce Plc.
(RR.L) Trent 600 series or the GP 7100 offered by the engine alliance of General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE -
news) and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX - news).

Still, without a launch customer, Boeing`s words ring hollow and its hopes of selling hundreds of 747Xs at $200
million apiece seem optimistic, industry experts have said.

Why not simply skip the program and deliver an all-new superjumbo 10 or 20 years from now, when the demand
is expected to be stronger, analysts have asked.

``As long as the basic concept of the airplane is sound, it`s usually better to continue to enhance it, grow its
capability, add new technologies that provide value, than it is to take a risk on an all-new one,`` Gillette said.

So barring an improbable breakthrough in propulsion technology, the $4 billion 747X project looks far safer than
the $10.7 billion A380, Boeing argues.

[Gatsby2]

Nachtrag:

Airbus im Jahr 2000: Rekordumsatz und -auslieferungen bei gleichzeitigem Programmstart der A380
29. Januar 2001

Mit mehr Verkäufen und Auslieferungen als erwartet, einem Auftragsbestand an
noch auszuliefernden Flugzeugen, der den der Konkurrenz übersteigt, einem
Rekordumsatz bei gleichzeitigem Programmstart der A380 und Integration des
Unternehmens hat Airbus alle Zielsetzungen erreicht und sogar überschritten,
die sich das Unternehmen selbst für das Jahr 2000 gesetzt hatte.
Im Jahr 2000 hat Airbus 520 Festbestellungen im Wert von US$ 41,3 Milliarden
verbucht. Das Jahr 2000 ist damit das beste Jahr für Airbus in Bezug auf den
Wert der festen Verkäufe. 41 Kunden, darunter vier neue, haben insgesamt 388
Standardrumpfflugzeuge der besonders erfolgreichen A320-Familie, zwei
A300-600-Frachtflugzeuge und 130 Langstreckenflugzeuge der marktführenden
A330/A340-Familie bestellt. Insgesamt entspricht der Absatz von Airbus im Jahr
2000 einem Marktanteil von 46 Prozent, eine Zahl, die mit dem Ziel von Airbus im
Einklang steht, rund die Hälfte aller Aufträge für Flugzeuge mit mehr als 100
Sitzen für sich zu verbuchen. Mit den im Jahr 2000 eingegangenen Aufträgen
beläuft sich die Gesamtzahl der verkauften Flugzeuge bei Airbus auf über 4.000.
Bis Ende des Jahres und seit bestehen von Airbus wurden insgesamt 4 125
Flugzeuge verkauft.
Diese Zahlen enthalten nicht die 50 Kaufverpflichtungen von sechs weltweit
hoch angesehenen Kunden, die in den sechs Monaten nach der "Authorization
to offer" im Juni für den von Grund auf neuen Airbus-Superjumbo eingegangen
sind. Dieses in Rekordzeit erzielte Ergebnis ist die Bestätigung für das große
Interesse des Marktes an der A380 und hat zum offiziellen Programmstart am 19.
Dezember geführt. Das Flugzeug wird im Jahr 2004 zu seinem Jungfernflug
starten und erstmals im März 2006 ausgeliefert. Mit diesem Programmstart ist
Airbus nun in der Lage, die modernste und umfassendste Produktfamilie für das
21. Jahrhundert anzubieten, die von der 100-sitzigen A318 bis zur 555-sitzigen
A380 reicht und einen äußerst hohen Grad an Betriebskommunalität zugunsten
der Betreiber und Passagiere aufweist.
Im Jahr 2000 hat Airbus den bislang höchsten Umsatz von US$ 17,2 Milliarden
erzielt und 311 Flugzeuge ausgeliefert. Das sind ca. 40 Prozent aller Lieferungen
von Flugzeugen mit mehr als 100 Sitzen. Dies ist ein Rekordergebnis für Airbus
und übertrifft die Ankündigungen zu Beginn des Jahres. Es spiegelt außerdem
die Fähigkeit von Airbus wider, mit dem anhaltenden Wachstum und den ständig
steigenden Fertigungskadenzen Schritt zu halten. Durchschnittlich wurden 26
Flugzeuge pro Monat ausgeliefert. Diese Lieferungen umfassen 241
Standardrumpfflugzeuge, acht A300-600 und 62 Flugzeuge der A330/A340
Familie. Die Fertigungskadenzen werden sich in den kommenden Jahren mit dem
Auftragsanstieg erhöhen und im Jahr 2003 durchschnittlich 38 Flugzeuge pro
Monat erreichen.
Ende des Jahres belief sich die Gesamtzahl der von Airbus ausgelieferten
Flugzeuge auf 2.499, bei einem Auftragsbestand an 1.626 noch auszuliefernden
Flugzeugen. Dieser Auftragsbestand zum Jahresende, der mehr als vier
Fertigungsjahren entspricht, ist nicht nur der höchste in der Airbus-Geschichte,
sondern liegt auch leicht über dem Niveau der Konkurrenz.
2000 war außerdem ein sehr bedeutsames Jahr für Airbus als Unternehmen, da
die Anteilseigner, BAE SYSTEMS und EADS, ihre Entscheidung angekündigt
haben, die vor 30 Jahren gegründete Konsortialstruktur (G.I.E.) in ein voll
integriertes Unternehmen umzuwandeln. Diese Umwandlung tritt Anfang 2001 in
Kraft.
Noël Forgeard, Chief Executive Officer von Airbus, zeigte sich angesichts dieser
Ergebnisse sehr zufrieden. "Ich bin sehr stolz darauf, dass Airbus in einem für
das Unternehmen bedeutsamen Jahr solch beeindruckende Ergebnisse erreicht
hat," erklärte er. "Mit der modernsten und umfassendsten Flugzeugfamilie
einerseits, die den höchsten Grad an Betriebskommunalität bietet und alle
Marktsegmente abdeckt, sowie einer neuen Unternehmensstruktur andererseits,
die Vorteile sowohl für unsere Kunden als auch für unsere Anteilseigner bietet,
ist Airbus besser als je zuvor in der Lage, die Herausforderungen der Zukunft
zu meistern."
Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie von:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE - PRESS DEPARTMENT
Tel.: [phone] oder 05.61.93.34.31
Im Internet abrufbar unter:
http://www.airbus.com


European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
Drentestraat 24
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam

[Gatsby2]

EADS geht strategische Partnerschaft mit der finnischen Patria ein

Die finnische Regierung, EADS und Patria unterzeichnen Vereinbarung über
Zusammenarbeit
EADS beteiligt sich mit 26,8 Prozent an Patria


Amsterdam, 6. Februar 2001
Die EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company will einen Anteil
am finnischen Technologiekonzern Patria Industries Oyj erwerben. Eine
entsprechende Vereinbarung haben das finnische Handels- und
Industrieministerium und die EADS am Dienstag unterzeichnet. Wie die EADS
mitteilte, übernimmt das größte europäische Luft- und Raumfahrtunternehmen
einen Anteil von 26,8 Prozent an Patria.
Zum Kerngeschäft von Patria gehören Produkte und Dienstleistungen aus Luft-
und Raumfahrt, Verteidigung und Telekommunikation. Das Unternehmen hat
seinen Stammsitz in Finnland, einige Standorte befinden sich in Schweden. 1999
erzielte Patria einen Nettoumsatz von 193 Mio EUR (1,1 Mrd FIM). Heute ist das
Unternehmen zu 100% in staatlichem Eigentum und beschäftigt rund 2200
Mitarbeiter.
Die strategische Partnerschaft stärkt Patria und gibt dem Unternehmen die
Möglichkeit, seine Geschäftsaktivitäten auszuweiten, beispielsweise durch neue
industrielle Kooperationen und neue Exportkanäle. Sie bietet der EADS die
Chance, die finnische Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie in europäische Programme
einzubeziehen. Die Partner beabsichtigen, ihre industrielle Zusammenarbeit
weiter auszubauen und ihre Kräfte im Marketing zu bündeln.
Diese Vereinbarung unterliegt noch der Genehmigung der finnischen Regierung,
der Kontrollgremien bei EADS und Patria sowie der Wettbewerbsbehörden. Das
finnische Handels- und Industrieministerium, EADS und Patria werden die
erforderlichen Verträge in den nächsten Wochen abfassen. Der endgültige
Vertragsabschluß wird im Frühsommer erwartet.
Ansprechpartner:
Dr. Rainer Ohler
Tel.: + 49 - 89 - 607 34235


European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
Drentestraat 24
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam

[Gatsby2]

Successful launch for SKYNET4F

07.02.01
The UK Ministry of Defence`s latest and last SKYNET 4 spacecraft, designed and
built by Astrium in the UK to provide British military satellite communications was
successfully launched on an Ariane 4 rocket from Kourou in French Guiana on
Wednesday 7th February 2001 at 8:05 pm local time.
Skynet 4F was carried inside the SPELDA dual launch structure whilst the Sicral
satellite, built by Alenia Spazio for the Italian Ministry of Defence, was on top and
released first.
Astrium`s "delivery-in-orbit" contract includes the launch of the satellite and also
provides for operational control and in-orbit testing of the satellite prior to
hand-over to the customer.
SKYNET 4F is the third and last of the SKYNET 4, Stage 2 series. SKYNET 4D
was launched from Cape Canaveral, USA on 10th January 1998 and SKYNET 4E
on 26th February 1999 from Kourou. As an enhanced version of the three
SKYNET 4, Stage 1 satellites and the two similar NATO IV spacecraft, the
modified communications payload incorporates steerable antennas for SHF spot
beam communications and provides increased power and a superior
anti-jamming capability whilst, at UHF, a fully tuneable system offers increased
flexibility.
ASTRIUM, formed in May 2000 by the merger of Matra Marconi Space and the
space division of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, is Europe`s leading space
company and number 3 in the world. A joint venture owned 75% by EADS and
25% by BAE SYSTEMS, Astrium employs a total of 7,500 people in France,
Germany and the United Kingdom. With an annual turnover of some 2 billion
Euros, its activities cover the full range of space activities including scientific
exploration, civil and military Earth observation and communications, ground
systems and navigation constellations, launchers and orbital infrastructure.
THE SKYNET 4 COMMUNICATIONS PAYLOAD
MODULE
A variety of spot and global beams enables the SKYNET 4 satellite to serve a
widely dispersed and extensive inventory of Earth stations on land, sea and in
the air, ranging from small man-portable radio sets and aircraft terminals to
rugged systems on naval vessels and submarines and the large anchor stations
on land. SKYNET 4 employs signal processing and anti-jamming features and its
ability to survive in the harshest of electronic warfare environments is extremely
important.
THE SKYNET 4D, 4E & 4F (STAGE 2) ENHANCEMENTS
The design of the SKYNET, Stage 2 satellites is derived from the earlier Stage 1
spacecraft and incorporates a number of changes to provide increased
operational flexibility and to incorporate the benefits of more modern technology.
Spacecraft Platform

Repackaged Telemetry, Tracking & Control (TT & C) system
Increased autonomous operation
Improved electrical power system
Enhanced reaction control system

Communications Payload

Tuneable UHF
Power of each of the two UHF transponders increased to 50 watts; each
serving one channel of 25 kHz
New Earth cover helical UHF antenna
Steerable high power spot SHF transmit and receive antenna
Earth cover and steerable European beam antenna
Power of each of the three SHF transponders increased to 50 watts
Revised SHF channel bandwidths, to between 60 and 125 MHz
New SHF beacon frequencies

For further information contact:
ASTRIUM-UK
Alistair SCOTT
[phone]
ASTRIUM-F
Rémi ROLAND
[phone]
http://www.astrium-space.com


European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
Drentestraat 24
NL-1083 HK Amsterdam

[Gatsby2]

Gemischte Nachrichten aus Zypern: Cyprus Airways kauft und least jeweils zwei Maschinen von Airbus und least 4 weitere von Boeing. Der schlechte Teil der Nachricht: bisher hat hier nur Airbus verkauft.

Friday February 16, 10:39 am Eastern Time

Cyprus upgrades fleet with Airbus, Boeing mix

(UPDATE: Releads with investment figure, clarifies debt levels, adds Boeing comment,
para 6,14)

By Michele Kambas

NICOSIA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Cyprus Airways said on Friday it will buy two planes and lease six to upgrade its fleet, investing
about $100 million and offsetting costs by selling four old aircraft.

Cyprus Airways, 65 percent state-owned, plans to buy two planes and lease a pair from European manufacturer Airbus Industrie
[ARBU.UL]. The airline, which currently flies only Airbus planes, said it will also lease four craft from rival U.S. manufacturer
Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) for its charter unit Eurocypria.

Cyprus Airways said it expected to pay about half the investment by selling four of its existing planes and is in talks with European
leasing firms. Further financing would be met with existing funds raised last year in a capital increase.

The carrier`s chairman Haris Loizides assured investors that it would not exceed a debt to equity ratio of 1:1. He said that the net
investment of the carrier would be in the region of $55 million plus an additional $45-50 million expected to be raised from the sale
of four existing planes.

``Cyprus Airways`s borrowing needs would not exceed 15 million pounds ($23.6 million) in the worst case scenario,`` said Loizides.
The company has long-term debt of 50 million pounds.

SELL TO BUY

Cyprus Airways will purchase two A319-200s from Airbus for delivery within 2002 and lease two A330-200 wide-bodies for
arrival in 2003. It will also lease four Boeing 737-800s for delivery within 2003.

The company will partly pay for planes with funds raised on the stock market last year when Cyprus Airways sold rights shares
reaping it $37 million. It will also use the $45-50 million in income it expects from the sale of four A310sale.

European and American diplomats had lobbied heavily for Cyprus Airways to buy its craft from Airbus and Boeing respectively
and many observers expected the carrier to choose Airbus so as not to upset European nations in the midst of Cypriot negotiations
for EU membership.

Boeing, shut out of the Cypriot market for decades, said they were thrilled by the decision.

``We are more than satisfied, we are absolutely ecstatic that they chose us, and for all the right reasons,`` Steven Aliment, Boeing
marketing director for Europe, told Reuters.

Loizides said the decision was based on ``sound economic fundamentals and a thorough assessment which began a year ago.``

Cyprus Airlines is reported to have considered selling the aircraft to Iran Air. But the deal was complicated by U.S. sanctions on
Iran because the aircraft were powered with General Electric engines.

``That issue is not going well,`` an airline source told Reuters, but avoided giving any details.

SWITCH NO PROBLEM

Loizides said a mix of aircraft in the airline`s small fleet would not pose a problem for maintenance purposes.

He said the U.S. firm had offered Cyprus a pilot training facility and a maintenance depot which would allow Cyprus Airways to
offer technical back-up to other Boeing carriers.

That offer, though, was contingent on aircraft purchases. ``We are still in negotiation with them to provide us with the services
they offered us,`` said Loizides.

Aliment said that matter was open for discussion.

The Cyprus Airways chairman said the choice of 737-800s was on the basis that they had the same operating costs as the A320s
but carried 189 people, fifteen more than the Airbus.

``It is cost effective and well suited towards the needs of the charter market,`` Loizides said.

[Gatsby2]

EADS begrüßt Ungarns Entscheidung zur Nutzungsdauerverlängerung der MiG-29
München/Budapest, 10. Februar 2001
Der Nationale Sicherheitsausschuss der ungarischen Regierung hat sich
entschieden, für die MiG-29 ein reduziertes Programm zur
Nutzungsfristverlängerung durchzuführen. Dies gab das ungarische
Verteidigungsministerium bei einer Pressekonferenz am 9. Februar 2001
bekannt.
Die EADS hatte den ungarischen Streitkräften die volle Modernisierung auf
NATO-Standard sowie die Verlängerung der Nutzungsfrist und langfristige
Sicherstellung der Einsatzbereitschaft der ungarischen MiG-29-Flotte als die mit
Abstand kostengünstigste Kampfflugzeugvariante zur Erfüllung der
NATO-Verpflichtungen Ungarns angeboten. Der erfolgreiche Einsatz der
deutschen MiG-29 in der integrierten Luftverteidigung der NATO unterstreicht
zudem die operationellen Vorteile einer solchen Lösung. Bei gemeinsamen
Übungen auch mit den amerikanischen Luftstreitkräften bei der Übung Red Flag
in den USA hatten die deutschen MiG-29 ihre Leistungsfähigkeit deutlich unter
Beweis gestellt.
Mit ihrem Angebot zur umfassenden MiG-29-Modernisierung hatte die EADS
außerdem die verstärkte Einbindung der ungarischen Luftfahrtindustrie an die
europäische Branche vorgeschla gen, letztlich auch ein Beitrag zur Stärkung der
Position Ungarns im Nato-Verteidigungsbündnis.
Die EADS wird ihr umfassendes Know-how beim Waffensystem MiG-29 auch in
einem reduzierten Programmumfang zur Verfügung stellen und den ungarischen
Luftstreitkräften, gemeinsam mit den russischen Partnern, die volle
Unterstützung für die weitere Nutzung der MiG-29 anbieten.
Ihr Ansprechpartner:
Militärflugzeuge
Wolfdietrich Hoeveler
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Gatsby2]

EADS liefert für AWACS-Radarflugzeuge moderne Identifizierungssysteme

Friedrichshafen / Unterschleißheim
15. Februar 2001

© EADS


Die Flotte der NATO-AWACS-Aufklärungsflugzeuge, mit ihren markanten
diskusförmigen Radarantennen über dem Rumpf, und die gleich großen
NATO-Trainer-Cargo Flugzeuge werden mit modernen Identifizierungs- und
Kollisionswarn-systemen der EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space
Company sicherer gemacht. Die Dornier Flugzeugwerft GmbH in Manching, als
Generalunternehmer von der NATO-Agentur NAPMA ausgewählt, hat an die
EADS Business Unit Defence Electronics den Liefervertrag für zunächst vier
Identifizierungs- und Kollisionswarn-systeme erteilt. Die neuen Anlagen fertigen
die EADS in Unterschleißheim bei München und die Rockwell-Collins Deutschland
in Heusenstamm. Dies teilte die Dornier GmbH am Donnerstag in Friedrichshafen
mit.
Die beauftragten Systeme bestehen aus dem IFF-Transponder neuer Generation
der EADS zur Freund-Feind-Abfrage (STR2000) und dem ACAS-Computer von
Rockwell-Collins für die Kollisionswarnung (TTR921). Johann Heitzmann, Mitglied
im Vorstand der Dornier GmbH und Leiter des Bereiches Bordsysteme: "Einbau
und Tests werden im Sommer beginnen und bis Ende 2001 abgeschlossen sein.
Eine Option des Auftrages beinhaltet die Lieferung weiterer 19 Systeme
beginnend in diesem Jahr."
Im zivilen Luftraum werden sogenannte ACAS-Verfahren (ACAS = Airborne
Collision Avoidance System) ange-wendet, um kritische Situationen und
Kollisionen zwischen Flugzeugen zu verhindern. Nähern sich Flugzeuge
gegenseitig an, tauschen sie über den IFF-Transponder ihre Daten aus. Der
ACAS-Computer wertet die übermittelten Flugdaten aus und warnt bei kritischen
Begegnungs-situationen die Piloten frühzeitig durch optische und akustische
Signale. Dies ist durch die immer engere Vermischung von zivilen und militärisch
kontrollierten Lufträumen in den letzten Jahren besonders wichtig geworden. Mit
dem Einbau dieses Systems erfüllt die NATO die Forderung ACAS-Systeme
spätestens ab 2003 in ihren Flugzeugen zu führen.
Der IFF-Transponder ist eine gemeinsame Entwicklung der EADS in
Unterschleißheim und der Thales Frankreich und wird auch an die Streitkräfte
der Bundesrepublik Deutschland und der Republik Frankreich geliefert. Die
Transponder sind außerdem für einen künftigen Ausbau auf Mode 5 vorbereitet.
Diese neue militärische Betriebsart erlaubt eine verschlüsselte Abfrage der
Militärmaschinen mit erheblich gesteigertem Informationsgehalt sowie
verbesserter Stör- und Abhörsicherheit.
Die Dornier GmbH ist eine Konzerngesellschaft der European Aeronautic
Defence and Space Company (EADS). Die EADS ist aus der Fusion der
DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG, der französischen Aerospatiale Matra und der
spanischen Construcciones Aeronáuticas (Casa) zu einem der drei führenden
Luft- und Raumfahrtunternehmen der Welt entstanden.
Ihr Ansprechpartner:
Business Unit Defence Electronics
Michael Hartwig, Tel. [phone], Fax -8-5888
E-Mail: [e-mail]

[Gatsby2]

EADS erzielt einen Rekord-Auftragseingang von EUR 49,3 Milliarden in 2000, ein Plus von 50,8 %
Amsterdam, 16. Februar 2001

Starkes Umsatzwachstum von 7,3 % auf EUR 24,2 Milliarden
Auftragsbestand steigt um 30 % auf EUR 133 Milliarden zum Jahresende
Camus und Hertrich: "Erarbeitetes Wachstumspotential wird
Wettbewerbsposition weiter deutlich verbessern"


EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (Börsenkürzel: EAD)
hat im Jahr 2000 mit einem Auftragseingang von EUR 49,3 Milliarden einen
Rekord erzielt. Dies bedeutet einen Anstieg von 50,8 % im Vergleich zu den
zusammengefaßten Pro-forma-Zahlen der Gründungsunternehmen Aerospatiale
Matra, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) and Construcciones Aeronáuticas
(CASA) und untermauert die außerordentlich positive Geschäftsentwicklung des
neuen Unternehmens. Zum Jahresende 2000 verzeichnete die EADS einen
Rekord-Auftragsbestand von EUR 133 Milliarden, plus 30 % gegenüber den
Pro-forma-Zahlen für 1999, teilte die europäische Nummer 1 der Branche am
Freitag, 16. Februar 2000 mit.
Der Umsatz im ersten Geschäftsjahr der EADS erreichte EUR 24,2 Milliarden auf
Pro-forma-Basis, ein Anstieg von 7,3 % gegenüber dem Pro-forma-Umsatz von
EUR 22,6 Milliarden in 1999.
Die beiden Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) der EADS, Philippe Camus and
Rainer Hertrich, sagten: "Wir sind sehr zufrieden mit dem ersten Geschäftsjahr
der EADS. Wir haben unsere zum Zeitpunkt des Börsengangs gesetzten Ziele
erreicht und werden dies auch in 2001 fortsetzen. EADS hat ein großes
Wachstumspotential, vor allem auf der Basis der wichtigen Programme, die wir
im Jahr 2000 auf den Weg gebracht oder unterzeichnet haben, wie zum Beispiel
das Großraumflugzeug Airbus A380, das Militärtransportflugzeug A400M, der
Lenkflugkörper METEOR oder der Militärhubschrauber NH90. Wir werden dieses
Wachstumspotential nutzen, um die Wettbewerbsposition der EADS zum Nutzen
unserer Kunden, Aktionäre und Mitarbeiter weiter zu stärken."
Zu dem Rekord beim Auftragseingang sagten die CEOs: "Unser Auftragseingang
in 2000 war doppelt so hoch wie unser Umsatz, und unser Auftragsbestand von
EUR 133 Milliarden entspricht mehr als fünf Jahren unserer Geschäftstätigkeit.
Dies gewährleistet hervorragende Perspektiven und macht uns sehr
zuversichtlich, unsere mittelfristigen Wachstums- und Profitabilitätsziele zu
erreichen, wenn nicht sogar zu übertreffen."

Bereiche kräftigen ihre führende Marktposition
Die Airbus Division steigerte erneut ihren Marktanteil und erreichte einen Umsatz
von EUR 14,9 Milliarden, ein Plus von 17,5 %. Mit 311 ausgelieferten Flugzeugen
(1999: 294 Flugzeuge) setzte Airbus die Steigerung seiner Produktionsraten auf
einen Rekordstand fort. Wie in den vergangenen Jahren war der
Auftragseingang deutlich höher als die Auslieferungen: Kunden in aller Welt
bestellten im Jahr 2000 insgesamt 520 Flugzeuge im Wert von EUR 33,6
Milliarden. Im sechsten Jahr in Folge wuchs der Auftragsbestand von Airbus und
erreichte EUR 104,0 Milliarden (für den EADS-Anteil von 80 %) zum Jahresende.
Insgesamt beträgt der Auftragsbestand von Airbus 1.626 Flugzeuge. Dies ist ein
Rekordstand, der mehr als fünf Jahre Arbeit abdeckt und Airbus an die
Spitzenposition in der Welt bringt. Darüber hinaus erhielt Airbus 50 feste
Zusagen von einigen der besten Luftfahrtunternehmen der Welt zum Kauf des
neuen Großraumflugzeugs A380, dessen offizielle Markteinführung am 19.
Dezember 2000 erfolgte.
Die Military Transport Aircraft Division verzeichnete einen Umsatz von EUR
316 Millionen in 2000. Mit EUR 493 Millionen war der Auftragseingang erneut
größer als der Umsatz, so daß der Auftragsbestand auf EUR 873 Millionen stieg.
Das A400M-Programm, für das in 2000 nach den Absichtserklärungen von
sieben Partnerländern für insgesamt 225 Flugzeuge eine positive Entscheidung
gefallen war, ist nicht im Auftragsbestand zum Jahresende 2000 enthalten.
Dieses Programm bedeutet für die Division und für EADS insgesamt einen
deutlichen Wachstumsbeitrag.
Der Umsatz der Aeronautics Aeronautics Division erreichte EUR 4,7 Milliarden
im vergangenen Jahr, fast 10 % mehr als 1999. Dieses Ergebnis wurde erreicht,
noch bevor die bedeutenden Militäraufträge der vergangenen Jahre (Tiger,
NH90, Eurofighter) einen Einfluß auf den Umsatz haben werden. Eurocopter
lieferte 289 Hubschrauber aus, nach 242 in 1999, und behauptete seine Nummer
1 Position im zivilen Bereich mit einem Marktanteil von 38 %. Bei den
Militärflugzeugen konnte das Umsatzniveau vor allem durch das Programm zum
Upgrade des Tornado erneut erreicht werden. Die Flugzeugwartung wuchs
parallel zu den weltweiten Flugzeugflotten und bestätigte damit das
Wachstumspotential in diesem Gebiet. Der Auftragseingang der Aeronautics
Division stieg auf EUR 8,3 Milliarden an, vor allem aufgrund der Unterzeichnung
des Produktionsvertrages für den militärischen Transporthubschrauber NH90.
Der Auftragsbestand erreichte zum Jahresende EUR 13,0 Milliarden,
entsprechend einer Geschäftstätigkeit von mehr als zwei Jahren.
In einem schwierigen Marktumfeld stieg der Umsatz der Space Division leicht auf
EUR 2,5 Milliarden (+ 0,7 %). Das Ariane Programm bestätigte seine führende
Position und hervorragende Zuverlässigkeit mit zwölf erfolgreichen Starts. Der
Auftragseingang der Space Division betrug EUR 3,0 Milliarden, ein Beweis für die
Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Produkte des EADS-Raumfahrtbereichs. Hierzu
zählten Aufträge an Astrium für sechs Telekom-Satelliten, insbesondere von
zwei der wichtigsten Kunden (Intelsat and Inmarsat). Bei ballistischen Raketen
wurde der Vertrag für die M51 unterzeichnet. Der Auftragsbestand zum
Jahresende erreichte EUR 4,8 Milliarden, entsprechend einer Beschäftigung von
etwa zwei Jahren.
Der Umsatz der Defence and Civil Systems Division verringerte sich auf EUR
2,9 Milliarden (- 24 %) in 2000, vor allem aufgrund der einkalkulierten
Dekonsolidierung der zivilen Telekommunikations-Joint-Ventures mit Nortel, die
bereits zum Zeitpunkt des EADS-Börsengangs angekündigt worden war.
Vergleichbar gerechnet blieb der Umsatz stabil. Dies ist ein Beleg dafür, daß sich
der Bereich sehr gut behauptet hat, trotz eines schwierigen Marktes. Das Umfeld
ist gekennzeichnet durch stagnierende Verteidigungsbudgets und einer
Zwischenphase zwischen Entwicklung und Produktionsphase, da erst dann das
volle Umsatzvolumen bei Lenkflugkörpern erreicht werden kann. Die Division hat
bereits ein Restrukturierungs-programm zur Steigerung der Profitabilität
angekündigt. Wie erwartet, sank der Auftragseingang der Division von den
Rekordständen der vergangenen Jahre auf ein normaleres Niveau von EUR 3,8
Milliarden. Aufträge bei den Lenkflugkörpern umfassten die Exporterfolge von
ASTER, sowie in der militärischen Telekommunikation einen Auftrag der
mexikanischen Polizei. Im Feld der Verteidigungselektronik erhielt die EADS ihren
ersten US-Auftrag von der Navy, ein außergewöhnlicher Erfolg für ein
europäisches Unternehmen. Der Auftragsbestand zum Jahresende erreichte
EUR 10,3 Milliarden; dies entspricht einer Geschäftstätigkeit von drei Jahren.
Dabei sind die im Jahr 2000 eingegangenen Absichtserklärungen des britischen
Verteidigungs-ministeriums für hohe Stückzahlen der METEOR-Rakete zur
Bewaffnung der Eurofighter der Royal Airforce noch nicht berücksichtigt.
Die EADS wird ihre detaillierten Finanzergebnisse für 2000 im Rahmen ihrer
Bilanz-Pressekonferenz am 19. März 2000 in Amsterdam veröffentlichen.
Die EADS startete am 10. Juli 2000 nach der Fusion der französischen
Aerospatiale Matra, der deutschen DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) und der
spanischen CASA. Die Notierung der EADS an den Börsen in Frankfurt, Madrid
und Paris markierte den ersten pan-europäischen und einen der größten
Börsengänge des Jahres 2000. EADS ist das drittgrößte Luft-, Raumfahrt- und
Verteidigungsunternehmen der Welt.
Ansprechpartner:
Eckhard Zanger
EADS Communications Finance
Tel. [phone]

[Gatsby2]

Die Russen kommen ...

... aber anstatt zu protestieren sollten sie besser zusehen, dass ihre Kisten leiser werden. Damit koennten sie bspw. in FRA die pro Start zu zahlenden Laermgebuehren auf ein oder zwei Promille reduzieren.

Thursday February 22, 1:55 pm Eastern Time

Russian Aircraft Builders Protest

MOSCOW (AP) -- About 1,000 employees of the airline Aeroflot and Russian
airplane-manufacturing firms picketed government headquarters on Thursday to protest the
state-owned airline`s leasing of foreign planes rather than ones made in Russia.

``Boeing, fly away! Airbus, fly away too!,`` read the slogan on some of the signs carried by picketers.

Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov, the department official responsible for overseeing civil aviation, came out of the government
building and addressed the protesters with a bullhorn.

He told them that the Cabinet would approve a leasing plan on March 15, and that 20 Russian-made Tu-204, Tu-214 and Il-96
planes were expected to be leased to Russian airlines this year, according to the Interfax news agency.

In December, Aeroflot director Valery Okulov dismissed criticism that the airline unfairly favored foreign manufacturers by
regularly leasing planes made by U.S.-based Boeing Co. and Europe`s Airbus Industries consortium.

He said that reliance on foreign aircraft was an economic necessity if Aeroflot, Russia`s largest airline and 51-percent owned by
the state, wanted to attract customers looking for efficiency and convenience.

Klebanov said Thursday that many Russian-made planes do not meet the increasingly tight noise and environmental criteria set by
many other countries, forcing airlines flying to those destinations to avoid using Russian planes.

The Il-96 and Tu-204 meet most international standards and a new engine for the Tu-224 is under development, Interfax quoted
him as saying.

[Gatsby2]

Manchmal ist die Homepage von EADS schon ein bisschen langsam. Zu der heute vom Handelsblatt gross verkuendeten Bestellung von 60 Eurofightern aus Griechenland (S. 17) haben sie noch gar nichts, und auch die Informationen ueber die Neuformation von MBDA gibt es nur in Englisch und Franzoesisch. Zwar sollen in MBDA auch deutsche Unternehmensbeteiligungen eingebracht werden, aber offensichtlich macht das franzoesische Kulturgehabe auch vor der Presseabteilung von EADS nicht halt. Hoffentlich klappt es in anderen Abteilungen besser ...



The imminent creation of MBDA will lead to the reorganisation of the company`s French centres of manufacturing excellence

Paris, 23 February 2001
The Central Works Council of EADS France met earlier today in Paris to
inform employee and union representatives of the imminent signature
of an agreement for the creation of MBDA. It is expected that this
agreement will be signed within the next few days by EADS, BAE
SYSTEMS and Finmeccanica, the three shareholders in the future
European missile systems company. The move marks a decisive step
in the process of consolidating the European defence sector. The
creation of MBDA remains subject to agreement by the appropriate
authorities.
Two other Central Works Councils, at Matra BAe Dynamics France in
Vélizy and Aerospatiale Matra Missiles in Châtillon, also met
simultaneously to discuss the same subject.
As part of an ongoing policy of transparency and continued dialogue
with staff and their representatives, the management teams of all three
member companies called these meetings to inform the employee and
union representatives of the outline for the future reorganisation by
MBDA of its manufacturing facilities in France, following the merger of
Matra BAe Dynamics and EADS Aerospatiale Matra Missiles. The
combined strengths of these two companies provides an
unprecedented opportunity to create a manufacturing base in France
that will be competitive, profitable and durably efficient in the longer
term in the face of American competition in the defence industry.
The move is part of the plan for change launched earlier this year by
EADS and its Defence and Civil Systems Division (DCS) and aimed at
building the basis for a significant profit growth. This plan is also a
logical continuation of actions already undertaken by Aerospatiale Matra
Missiles to match its resources to its cost base and for which an
AS-FNE request for the French "Région Centre" has been made to the
appropriate authorities.
As part of the creation of MBDA, all these actions will be supported by
the setting up of French skill-based centres of manufacturing
excellence in the missile technologies, which will have the critical mass
necessary to ensure their long-term futures.
The main principles applied to concentrating EADS` strengths into
these new centres of manufacturing excellence will enable:

The creation at Bourges airport of a major major Mechanical Centre:
This will centralise all mechanical and electromechanical
equipment production activities. This reorganisation of
manufacturing activities will require the transfer of activities
and jobs from the Salbris site to Bourges.
The recent order for 60 Airbus A300-600F cargo aircraft
confirms the continued commitment to aircraft production at
Bourges.
In general terms, the number of jobs at Bourges at the end of
the reorganisation procedure will be stabilised.
The strengthening of the Electronics Production Centre at Matra
Electronique in Compiègne (a wholly owned subsidiary of MBDA)
through the transfer of activities and jobs from Bourges.
The electronic engineering facilities at Bourges and in the Paris
region will be maintained.
The creation of a missile, weapon systems and testing Integration
Centre shared between Selles-St-Denis and Bourges Subdray,
following the transfer of activities and jobs from Bourges Engins.
The Parisian sites of Vélizy la Source, Vélizy le Bois and Châtillon will
retain their current areas of expertise, but will be regrouped by major
divisions.

These broad outlines will act as a basis for developing and
implementing the reorganisation plan for MBDA in France and, in
accordance with current legislation and the traditional practice of the
Group, will be the subject of full consultation with employee
representative organisations.
Press Contacts:
EADS
Roland Sanguinetti
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Gatsby2]

Fuer 2001 war zwar branchenweit ein Auftragsrueckgang angekuendigt worden, aber das heisst nicht, dass es gar keine mehr gibt:

Tuesday February 27 5:43 PM ET
United to Buy 15 Airbus Planes

CHICAGO (Reuters) - United Airlines (NYSE:UAL - news), the world`s
largest airline, said on Tuesday it is buying 15 new Airbus Industrie
(ARBU.UL) planes for delivery in the first quarter of 2003 to replace aging
Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) planes.

United, a unit of UAL Corp., said it is buying seven A319s and eight A320s
that will replace Boeing 727-200 model aircraft, scheduled to be retired by
the end of 2003.

As of Tuesday, United had 103 Airbus aircraft in its fleet. Including aircraft
on order, United has 192 Airbus planes.

United said its operating fleet will consist of 619 planes with an average age of 9.7 years at the end of 2001.
During 2002, the airline plans to take deliver of 49 planes while retiring 25 planes.

Shares of UAL closed up 15 cents at $38.30 on the New York Stock Exchange

[Gatsby2]

Cathay Pacific kauft 7 Langstreckenmaschinen von Airbus. Interessant ist auch der letzte Absatz, demzufolge sich Boeing insbesondere auch mit ihrem Insistieren auf einer Ausstattung der B-777 mit GE-Motoren selbst aus dem Rennen geworfen hat.

Der Auftrag ist fuer Airbus vor allem deswegen von besonderer Bedeutung, weil C.P. einen ueberdurchschnittlich hohen Anteil an extremen Langstrecken bedient und damit auch ein sehr interessanter Kunde fuer die A-380 waere.



Thursday March 1, 3:45 pm Eastern Time

Cathay Pacific to take 7 Airbuses

(UPDATE: Recasts, adds value of deal, implications)

By Kwan Chooi Tow and Bradley Perrett

HONG KONG/LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. unveiled on Thursday a fleet expansion that
included a breakthrough for European manufacturer Airbus Industrie.

Cathay said it would buy one A330-300 directly from Airbus while leasing three A340-300s and three A340-600s -- an important
new type that rivals Boeing Co.`s (NYSE:BA - news) 777-300LR.

The airline did not state the cost of the new equipment, but the capital value of the planes is about $1.1 billion, based on catalogue
prices.

The planes would increase Cathay`s fleet to 81 by the end of 2002, although the A340-300s would effectively replace three
identical planes that the carrier was currently leasing from Air China, the airline said.

``The aircraft will enter service in mid-2002,`` it said. ``Cathay Pacific is currently evaluating its aircraft requirements beyond
2002.``

Cathay`s acquisition of A340-600s is a breakthrough for Airbus because the airline is likely to need more big, long-haul planes like
them.

The A340-600, with a normal capacity of around 370, is a near substitute for Boeing Co`s (NYSE:BA - news) 420-seat 747-400,
which Cathay operates in large numbers and may begin retiring later this decade.

NEW YORK SERVICES EYED

Cathay, which is scheduled to take delivery of 10 aircraft this year, had said earlier that it expected load factors to come down in
2001 because of that rise in capacity and an expected global economic slowdown.

Neil Payne, head of transport and logistics research at ING Barings, said the A340-600s, with their great range, were probably
aimed at meeting the launch of direct flights between Hong Kong and New York by Continental Airlines Inc (NYSE:CAL - news)
and United Airlines (NYSE:UAL - news) this year.

Cathay had also said previously they would increase the frequencies of flights on regional routes, he said.

``They are probably looking beyond the slowdown and looking at the fact that traffic growth in the long term is still very positive,``
he added.

Cathay said the A340-600s would be able to fly such long-range routes as Hong Kong to New York, and Hong Kong to Chicago.

Airbus is a partnership of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV and British defence contractor BAE Systems Plc
(quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L).

BOEING ALTERNATIVE REJECTED

In choosing the A340-600, Cathay has rejected Boeing`s similar 777-300LR, which would have fitted neatly into the airline`s
existing fleet of 777s -- except that it was not available with the Rolls-Royce Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: RR.L) engines
that Cathay was already using on that model.

The U.S. manufacturer has annoyed existing 777 customers by giving General Electric Co (NYSE:GE - news) exclusive rights to
provide engines for the 777-300LR and its shorter variant, the 777-200LR.

An airline`s maintenance costs rise every time it introduces a new type of engine.

The A340-600s, on the other hand, will have Rolls-Royce engines, although they are different to the Rolls powerplants that Cathay
already has in service.

The new A330-300 will also presumably get Rolls engines, like other A330s in Cathay`s fleet. A340-300s are available only with
engines from GE and French state firm Snecma [SNEC.UL].

[Gatsby2]

Der Job als Verteidigungsminister zeigt wirklich neue Seiten des Rudolf Sch. Z.B. Courage! Erst stellt er einen Blankoscheck auf die Beschaffung der A-400M aus, und jetzt auch noch das. Ich bin wirklich erstaunt ueber die positiven Tendenzen der rot-gruenen Regierung in der Militaerpolitik.

Mittwoch 7. März 2001, 16:47 Uhr

Scharping hält an Kampfhubschrauber Tiger fest

Berlin (Reuters) - Bundesverteidigungsminister Rudolf Scharping (SPD) hält trotz
Lücken in seinem Etat an der Beschaffung des Kampfhubschraubers Tiger fest.
Anders lautende Medienberichte wies Scharping am Mittwoch in Berlin zurück:
"Dass wir aus Haushaltsgründen am Tiger-Programm Abstriche machen, ist
schlichtweg falsch", sagte Scharping nach einer Sitzung des
Verteidigungsausschusses des Bundestages. Die "Bild"-Zeitung hatte berichtet,
Scharping erwäge die Einstellung des deutsch-französischen
Kooperationsprojektes. Der Tiger wird von dem Hubschrauber-Herstellers Eurocopter entwickelt, der zum
europäischen Luft - und Raumfahrtkonzerns EADS gehört.

Scharping bezifferte den von den Teilstreitkräften angemeldeten Fehlbetrag bei der Materialerhaltung für dieses
Jahr auf 378 Millionen Mark. Diese Lücke werde aber Rahmen des laufenden Haushaltes gedeckt, sagte Scharping.
"Bild" hatte berichtet, Scharpings Rüstungsplaner erwögen, durch einen Stopp des Tigers 3,5 Milliarden Mark
einzusparen. Dabei werde eine Konventionalstrafe von 500 Millionern Mark in Kauf genommen. Der
Verteidigungsetat 2001 beläuft sich auf 47,3 Milliarden Mark.

Ein Sprecher Scharpings sagte, der Vertrag über den Kauf der Tiger-Hubschrauber sei rechtskräftig. Deutschland
und Frankreich würden je 80 Maschinen beschaffen. Ein Eurocopter-Sprecher sagte, das Unternehmen halte einen
Ausstieg der Bundeswehr für "völlig ausgeschlossen". Er verwies darauf, dass die Bundeswehr
Schulungshubschrauber bestellt habe und ein Simulationszentrum für die Ausbildung von Piloten baue. Zudem liefen
Bestellungen für den Transporthubschrauber NH90. Ohne den Tiger machten diese Order aber keinen Sinn, weil
der unbewaffnete NH90 im Einsatz bewaffneten Schutz brauche, sagte der Sprecher.

[Gatsby2]

Gute Nachrichten an einem anderweitig eher besch...eidenen Boersentag: die Goldmaenner halten den Auftragsbestand fuer die A-380 fuer hinreichend, um den Anlauf einer Produktion zu vernuenftigen Kosten zu gewaehrleisten und damit in einen insgesamt gewinnbringenden Produktionszyklus von etwa 22 bis 25 Jahren zu starten.

Eine qualifizierte Aussage, mit der ich doch etwas mehr anfangen kann, als mit den ueblichen ratings, deren Begruendung oft zu wuenschen uebrig laesst.



Friday March 9, 11:21 am Eastern Time

Airbus near minimum A380 output rates--Goldman

LONDON, March 9 (Reuters) - Airbus Industrie [ARBU.UL] has now sold almost enough
A380 superjumbo airliners to achieve a minimum acceptable rate of production in the first few
years of the programme, according to research from Goldman Sachs.

Sales announcements from Airbus and its customer airlines suggest that the European aircraft manufacturer could deliver nearly
20 planes in 2006 and 2007, research by the bank`s European aerospace analyst, Sash Tusa, shows.

But since no deliveries will be made before 2006, Airbus still has five years in which to add further to its order book.

``Twenty-four a year is probably a minimum acceptable production rate,`` Tusa said.

Airbus rival Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - news) last year delivered 25 of its 747-400 aircraft, which the A380 is intended to displace as
the world`s largest airliner.

However, that was regarded as an unusually low number for the 747, even though the model has been in production for more than
30 years and has long since covered its development costs.

Airbus market forecasts envisage the industry delivering 360 aircraft with more than 400 seats by the end of 2009.

An Airbus spokeswoman said that forecast included some 747-400s, depending on how many seats they were delivered with.

Boeing rates the 747-400 as a 416-seat plane but many airlines operate it with fewer than 400 seats.

So far, nine customers have bought 66 A380s and taken options on a further 54.

Options are only agreed terms for possible future orders, but Tusa estimated that if they were all taken up then A380 production
would run at between 22 and 25 a year from 2008 to 2010.

Again, that estimate did not take into account the prospect of further sales.

A380s already on order or option would all be delivered by 2012, Tusa said.

[Gatsby2]

Na also, es geht doch. Nach anfaenglich erheblichen technischen Problemen, scheinen die Starts der Ariane 5 jetzt reibungslos zu klappen:

Ariane-5 rocket orbits two satellites

March 8, 2001
Web posted at: 10:58 PM EST (0358 GMT)

KOUROU, French Guiana (REUTERS)
-- Western Europe`s new generation
Ariane-5 rocket placed two satellites into
orbit after a textbook launch late on
Thursday from equatorial French
Guiana.

The rocket blasted off at 8:51 p.m.
(2251 GMT) from the European Space
Agency (ESA) launch center in Kourou,
French Guiana, on the northeast coast
of South America.

Initially slated for launch on March 2, the mission was delayed to undertake
additional checks aboard the rocket.

Twenty-nine minutes after lift-off, officials of the Arianespace rocket launch
company said the Eurobird satellite separated from the rocket.

"Eurobird will replace the German satellite Copernicus that is arriving at the end
of its orbital life," Eutelsat Director General Giuliano Berretta told Reuters.

"As well, Eurobird will transmit direct to home television to 5.5 million
households in Britain. This is the largest European market of its type."

Berretta declined to disclose the cost of Eurobird. Specialists estimated the cost
of the satellite, launch and insurance at approximately $200 million.

Paris-based Eutelsat currently operates a fleet of 18 satellites, with plans to
launch six more in the next 24 months.

Eurobird weighed three tonnes at launch and was built in France by a consortium
led by Alcatel Space.

Seven minutes later, the rocket released the B-SAT 2A satellite for Japan`s
telecommunications operator B-SAT.

B-SAT weighed 1.3 tonnes at launch and will provide direct television
broadcasting throughout Japan.

B-SAT officials were unavailable to reveal financial details of the satellite. Its
manufacture, launch and insurance was estimated at $150 million.

The satellite was built in the U.S. by Orbital Sciences.

For the fourth year running, Arianespace, the Paris-based company that launches
Ariane rockets, will be hampered by satellite manufacturers` inability to deliver
payloads on time. Arianespace President Jean-Marie Luton said he didn`t expect
another Ariane launch before June.

Thursday`s launch was the 140th Ariane mission since the series was put into
service in 1979. It was the ninth mission of the new generation Ariane-5 rocket
and its sixth commercial flight.

Arianespace said it had orders for the launch of 36 heavy satellites worth an
estimated $3.3 billion.

Despite 12 successful launches in 2000, the company said in January it lost over
$185 million last year.

The loss, the first in the company`s history, was largely attributed to high
production costs in the first batch of Ariane-5 rockets and costs of upgrading
ground facilities at the French Guiana launch site.

[Gatsby2]

Die Zahlen heute waren ja nicht gerade der hit, aber ...

Monday March 19, 9:55 am Eastern Time

EADS says no exclusive ties with Northrop Grumman

By Bradley Perrett, European aerospace & defence correspondent

AMSTERDAM, March 19 (Reuters) - European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV
(EADS) on Monday ruled out an exclusive relationship with U.S. military partner Northrop
Grumman Corp (NYSE:NOC - news).

Unlike Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - news) and BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland:
BA.L), two aerospace firms that regard each other as preferred partners, EADS was willing
to work with anyone, one of its two chief executives, Rainer Hertrich, said.

``Definitely the cooperation with American companies will not be limited to Northrop,`` he said
as Dutch-registered EADS announced its 2000 results.

Industry analysts expect a long-term move towards transatlantic consolidation in the aerospace
and defence sector, and have been looking for signs of who was pairing off with whom.

So far the only obvious pair is Boeing and BAE -- U.S. and British, respectively -- and even
those two companies decline to comment on any distant plans they may have to merge.

EADS announced last year that it was working with Northrop Grumman on aspects of defence
electronics, leading some to wonder whether the two would develop a similar habitual
relationship.

But Hertrich said: ``I think there is no limitation and we are really discussing, with all the big
players in the United States, the potential for cooperation.``

AD-HOC COOPERATION

EADS is mostly a civil company, particularly because it owns 80 percent of Airbus Industrie
[ARBU.UL], one of the world`s leading airliner makers, and all of Eurocopter, a mostly civil
helicopter business.

Its other chief executive, Philippe Camus, said the company`s defence sales were about five
billion euros a year, which is less than 20 percent of the total.

However, EADS has said it intends to become more focused on defence -- something it will
have trouble doing without working with U.S. companies, especially if it wants a stake in the
big market to supply the U.S. military.

As Hertrich described it, EADS`s policy of cooperation resembles that of leading U.S. defence company Lockheed Martin Corp
(NYSE:LMT - news), which has a stated policy of ad-hoc cooperation, choosing different partners at different times according to
the business opportunity at hand.

Indeed, EADS is one of Lockheed`s many partners.

TRANSATLANTIC MERGERS DIFFICULT

While aerospace executives talk a lot about the need for transatlantic cooperation, very little of it has happened so far.

BAE and British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: RR.L) have been allowed to buy sensitive
businesses in the United States, but the U.S. and French governments have shown little sign of opening up their industries to
mergers with each other.

EADS, the result of a round of aerospace mergers last year, has been carefully structured as an equally French and German
company, with a further stake held by the Spanish government.

The influence in the business of a French state holding is leveraged through a cascade of holding companies.

[Gatsby2]

Die Umstrukturierung liegt EADS offenbar recht schwer im Magen, aber zumindestens bei der Geschaeftsentwicklung gibt es positive Nachrichten. Offenbar ist es doch nicht so ganz einfach, aus einem Konsortium einen Konzern zu machen.

March 20, 2001

EADS Posts Loss for the Year, Burdened by Restructuring Costs

By Daniel Michaels
Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal

AMSTERDAM -- Dragged down by accounting charges and
heavy restructuring costs in its military and headquarters
operations, European Aeronautic Defense & Space Co. N.V.,
the newly created parent of Airbus Industrie , posted a net loss
of 909 million euros ($815.8 million) last year.

Executives at the Netherlands-registered company, which was
formed in July, predicted the company will report a net profit
this year thanks to the strong U.S. dollar, robust sales,
continued cost cutting and a change in accounting practices
relating to currency hedging.

EADS, as the company is known, said pro-forma operating
profit rose 11% to 1.4 billion euros. Pro-forma revenue climbed
7% to 24.2 billion euros. The rise in earnings stems from a
restatement of the company`s 1999 pro-forma operating profit
to exclude a 182 million euros gain from the sale of a subsidiary.
If that sale had been included in the 1999 results, the company`s
operating profit would have fallen 3% from the previous year.

A series of one-time charges were responsible for the 909
million euros loss. The company took an accounting charge of
1.4 billion euros for currency hedging, a one-time hit of 152
million euros for restructuring and a 110 million euros
write-down of its investment in Globalstar Telecommunications
Ltd., the failing satellite phone venture. The net loss compared
with a 1.05 billion euros loss in 1999.

Co-Chief Executive Philippe Camus said a strong dollar will
enable EADS profit by 2004 to equal a 10% return on sales, as
compared with a 1999 figure of 8%. The company`s prices are
in dollars, while most of its expenses are in euros. Mr. Camus
said sales should rise by more than 6% annually over the next
three years.

The company proposed a dividend of 50 European cents a
share for 2000. EADS shares, which are listed in Frankfurt,
Paris and Madrid, fell 4.6%, or 1.06 euros, to 21.74 euros
each on Monday.

Significant Airbus Role

Airbus, in which EADS owns an 80% stake, continued to
dominate the parent company`s financial statement. The Airbus
stake contributed more than 1.4 billion euros in operating profit
to EADS, but the figure dropped for the company as a whole
once losses from other divisions were taken into account. In
1999, Airbus accounted for 64% of EADS`s pro-forma
operating profit. Airbus`s share of EADS`s revenue rose to 59%
in 2000 from 56% in 1999.

EADS was created from the merger of Aerospatiale Matra SA
of France, the Dasa aerospace unit of German-American car
maker DaimlerChrysler AG and Construcciones Aeronauticas
SA of Spain. It owns Airbus together with Britain`s BAE
Systems PLC, which holds 20%. In June, the two companies
agreed to convert Airbus into a single company, ending its
30-year status as an industrial consortium.

Mr. Camus said the integration of Airbus is in "the very final
stages" and is expected to yield 350 million euros in savings and
revenue enhancements for EADS and BAE Systems.

As in 1999, results at EADS were hit by currency-hedging
policies put in place at the old French government-owned
Aerospatiale, which became part of Aerospatiale Matra in
1999. Axel Arendt, chief financial officer of EADS, said that,
due to changes in accounting policies following international
accounting standards, EADS has changed its currency-hedging
policies to a system that hedges individual sales contracts, not
the company`s overall currency position. Mr. Arendt said this
should improve investors` ability to predict results. The change
also should reduce earnings volatility and help the company post
a net profit this year.

"The net income of 2000 is very much driven by accounting
issues," he said.

He pointed to the company`s eightfold increase in cash flow to
1.5 billion euros as a sign of the underlying strength of its
operations, a fact that should begin showing in this year`s
results. "We definitely will have a net profit in year 2001," he
said, crediting the change in accounting standards.

Growth in Orders

EADS orders rose 50% in 2000 to a pro-forma 49 billion
euros. The company ended 2000 with an order backlog up
29% to 132 billion euros, or five-and-a-half years of sales.
EADS`s stake in Airbus dominates its order book.

Starting this year, EADS will consolidate 100% of Airbus and
then distribute 20% of the Airbus profit to BAE Systems. Mr.
Arendt said the larger stake will boost 2001 revenue and
earnings before interest and taxes 15%, in spite of rising charges
for research and development for the planned Airbus A380
superjumbo jetliner. Airbus in December launched a $12 billion
project to build the two-deck plane, for which it now has 66
firm orders.

The main weak spots in EADS`s performance were its
military-transport aircraft division, which posted a pro-forma
loss of 63 million euros due to research-and-development
costs, and the defense and civil-systems division, which incurred
a 110 million euros loss because of restructuring charges,
primarily at its LFK missile subsidiary in Germany. Co-CEO
Rainer Hertrich said he expects the division to return to
profitability in 2002.

Mr. Hertrich said EADS`s restructuring plan calls for the
elimination of 3,000 jobs. About 600 of those will come from
headquarters operations, 900 from the space division and
1,500 from the defense business. Out of the total, 900 jobs will
be cut in France and 600 jobs will be cut in Germany.

[Gatsby2]

Airbus praesentiert ihr neuestes Machwerk. Viel Glueck ...!

Friday March 23, 5:26 pm Eastern Time

Airbus Unveils A340-600

By NATHALIE SCHUCK
Associated Press Writer

TOULOUSE, France (AP) -- Airbus Industrie rolled its new A340-600 out of the factory on Friday, hailing the latest in its fleet of
long-range planes as its ``longest and largest airliner yet.``

The A340-600, one of two new long-haul models conceived in 1997, is expected to begin commercial flights in 2002.

The plane, shown Friday at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, marks the European consortium`s latest attempt at beating rival
Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news)

With the capacity to hold 380 passengers in three classes and cruise 8,630 miles nonstop, the A340-600 will be Airbus` largest
four-engine wide body, Airbus said in a statement.

Each airplane, with a length of 247 feet and a wingspan of 210 feet, will have a price tag of more than $174 million. The planes
will be powered by Trent 500 Rolls-Royce engines.

The aircraft will make its inaugural flight in late April and will be delivered to its first client, Virgin Atlantic, in June 2002.

Boeing`s 777-200, part of its popular long-haul fleet of 777s, still surpasses its Airbus competitor in range, cruising 10,195 miles
nonstop. It holds a smaller passenger load of 305.

Airbus` A340-500, which will seat 313 passengers with a flying range of 9,920 miles, is also expected to begin commercial flights
in 2002.

Together, the two new Airbus planes have 127 firm orders and commitments from 11 customers, the consortium said.

Airbus last year reported significantly more aircraft orders than Boeing for the first time.

When Airbus` mammoth A380 -- its much touted double-decker 555-passenger superjumbo -- enters the skies in 2006, it will
surpass Boeing`s 747 as the world`s largest passenger plane.

[Gatsby2]

Ach schade. Jetzt wollen die Griechen doch erstmal die Olympiade feiern.

Thursday March 29, 10:53 am Eastern Time

Greece delays buying 60 jets from Eurofighter

(UPDATE: Adds doubts over deal paras 10-12, no comment from companies para 22)

By Dina Kyriakidou

ATHENS, March 29 (Reuters) - Greece delivered a surprise blow to the Eurofighter
consortium on Thursday by postponing the purchase of 60 Typhoon fighter jets beyond 2004 to
save money to fund the Olympic Games, job creation and tackling poverty.

``We decided to postpone...some of the arms programme, such as the purchase of a fourth
generation fighter jet until after the 2004 period,`` Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis told
reporters after a marathon cabinet meeting.

The Greek premier, whose socialist government`s social policy has recently come under fire,
said money was needed to fund anti-poverty measures, job creation and to pay for the 2004
Athens Olympics.

``It is necessary to face with determination (our) shortcomings in many sectors,`` he said.

Greece`s plan to buy the Typhoon now had been a valuable marketing tool for Eurofighter,
since rival Dassault Aviation has failed to find an export customer for its Rafale aircraft.

Lockheed Martin`s (NYSE:LMT - news) F-16 Fighting Falcon is the leading jet in the global
fighter market, although other combat aircraft are offered by Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - news)
and by BAE and its Swedish affiliate, Saab .

British defence contractor BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L) owns 37
percent of Eurofighter. European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co and Italy`s Finmeccanica
own the rest and plan to pool their holdings in a joint venture.

Greece in February signed a deal to buy 60 Typhoons for about 5 billion euros ($4.43 billion)
with an option for an additional 30 jets later.

The agreement included the participation of Greek firms in parts of the aircraft production, a
move defence ministry officials argued would give a much-needed boost to Greece`s ailing
arms industry.

DEAL DELAYED, NOT SCRAPPED

The government spokesman emphasised that the decision to buy jets was not being scrapped
but merely pushed back.

``It`s not cancelled but it`s being moved back,`` spokesman Dimitris Reppas told reporters after the cabinet meeting which lasted
over four hours.

But Simitis appeared to leave open the possibility other types of aircraft may be considered. He said merely that Greece would
order a fourth-generation plane after 2004 -- not specifically the Typhoon.

The Typhoon, Rafale and Saab Gripen are all regarded as fourth-generation planes. The 1970s-vintage F-16 is not, although it is
equipped with up-to-date electronic systems.

``The negotiations are continuing and maybe we don`t want to commit yet,`` a senior government official told Reuters. ``But I have
a feeling that it`s (the Typhoon).``

The Greek Prime Minister said the cost of hosting the 2004 Games would be balanced by the international exposure the country
would enjoy.

``They will promote the country internationally,`` he added.

Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos left the cabinet meeting early, saying he was flying to Brussels, and declined further
comment.

His aides said he was not pleased with the development, which took him by surprise.

``This was not planned,`` a senior defence ministry official told Reuters.

Greece has slated 4 trillion drachmas ($10.38 billion) for defence spending between 2001 and 2004. An additional 1.7 trillion was
earmarked for the Typhoon jets.

Defence ministry officials said the aircraft would bring Greece`s defence capabilities closer to those of its arch rival Turkey, which
is seen as being better armed.

Eurofighter said it was expecting Greece to make an official statement on the matter and Dassault Aviation declined comment on
the decision.

[Gatsby2]

Bye-bye!

Wednesday March 28, 10:53 pm Eastern Time

Boeing to shelve superjumbo - source

(UPDATE: adds detail, paras 4, 8-10, 12-17)

By Chris Stetkiewicz

SEATTLE, March 28 (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - news) will put its proposed
superjumbo 747X commercial jet on the back burner and focus on developing an all-new,
mid-sized plane flying just below the speed of sound, an industry source said on Wednesday.

A Boeing spokesman declined to comment, but the Seattle- based aerospace giant recently
said it was discussing with airline customers a triangle-shaped ``delta-wing`` plane that would
carry about 250 passengers and cut transatlantic travel by 90 minutes compared to current
subsonic flights.

``Boeing is about to announce that they are basically slowing down or backing off development
activity for the 747X and that they will be going forward with the new (mid-sized) plane,`` said
the industry source, asking not to be identified.

Boeing Chairman Phil Condit last week said he was ``excited`` about the possibility of a new
mid-sized jet that would fly at Mach .95, or 95 percent of the speed of sound, which is roughly
740 mph (1,200 kph), depending on temperature and altitude.

Current airliners fly at Mach .80 to Mach .86, except for the supersonic Concorde, which saw
only limited production due to exorbitant operating costs and ticket prices.

Boeing has not booked a single 747X order, while rival Airbus Industrie [ARBU.UL] has sold
66 of its 555-seat A380 jets, which will succeed the 747 as the world`s biggest jetliner when it
debuts late this decade.

Sources said Boeing sales and marketing staff had become frustrated with the lack of
customer interest in the 747X family, which would add about 100 seats and more flight range to
the current model 747-400.

AIRBUS MORE AGGRESSIVE

Airbus, a partnership of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) , and Britain`s
BAe Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L), lists the A380 at about $230 million
apiece, but sources say discounts for launch customers put the price lower than what Boeing
asked for the 747X.

Meanwhile, Boeing has stood by its decision to price airplanes to make money, abandoning a cutthroat pricing policy aimed at
holding on to its once-commanding share of the commercial jet market.

``The 747X is an aircraft that we were interested in, but for the moment they have not put a lot of energy into that aircraft,`` said
one airline industry executive. ``Boeing is not aggressively marketing that aircraft.``

An airline last week told a Wall Street analyst that Boeing was shopping around the new delta-wing jet, prompting Condit and
Boeing commercial airplane boss Alan Mulally to give further details at an analysts` conference here.

``We`ve heard different things about the Mach .95 airplane and certainly they`ve had some discussions with us, but it`s just a paper
plane right now,`` the airline industry executive said. ``We are a big customer of theirs and we would like to see them put more
effort into their product line, no doubt about it. We`d like to see some new planes and new ideas.``

HIGHER, FASTER, FARTHER

The delta-wing plane, one of several designs included in a long-range program dubbed 20XX, would fly farther than the current
200-seat Boeing 757 and the 250-seat 767 and at higher altitude, meaning it could avoid slower-flying jets.

One Wall Street analyst pegged the cost to develop the plane at $9 billion, making it more difficult for Boeing to simultaneously
fund the $4 billion 747X.

Boeing may prefer to distribute its research and development spending more broadly across its defense and space product lines,
analysts have said.

Boeing last week announced plans to move its corporate headquarters out of Seattle, where it has built airplanes for 85 years, in a
move aimed at de-emphasizing the commercial airplane unit.

Earlier this week Boeing denied that it had changed its strategy on the 747X or that a new mid-sized plane would eat into sales of
757s and 767s, saying that the two markets were distinctly separate.

[Gatsby2]

War lange still im Thread; sogar die Bestellung von LTU ist noch nicht drin. Aber das MUSS rein:

A340-600 absolviert Erstflug



Die Airbus A340-600, das erste neue Passagierflugzeug des 21. Jahrhunderts,
erhielt heute Vormittag auf dem Flughafen Toulouse-Blagnac die Startfreigabe
für ihren Jungfernflug. Das in Airbus-Farben bemalte Flugzeug - mit dem Slogan
"longer, larger, farther, faster, higher, quieter, smoother" in großen Lettern auf
dem Rumpf - rollte an den Start und erhob sich um 10:34 Uhr Ortszeit (08:34 Uhr
GMT) in die Lüfte.
Die Besatzung besteht aus Claude Lelaie, Vice President der Airbus Flight
Division, als Kapitän und Ed Strongman, Testpilot, als Copilot; mit an Bord sind
außerdem Gilles Robert, der Test- und Entwicklungsleiter der Airbus Flight
Divsion, Jacky Joye und Gérard Desbois als Flugversuchsingenieure. Der
Erstflug markiert den Beginn eines umfassenden, auf 1600 Flugstunden
angesetzten Flugversuchsprogramms mit drei A340-600, das zu der Zulassung
dieses Flugzeugmusters und seiner Indienststellung Mitte 2002 führen wird.
Das Startgewicht von über 300 Tonnen (660 000 lbs), mit dem die A340-600
abhob, wird eine realistische erste Beurteilung ihres Flugverhaltens ermöglichen.
Tatsächlich weist dieses Modell mit einem maximalen Startgewicht von 365
Tonnen die bisher größte Kapazität unter allen Mitgliedern der
Airbus-Flugzeugfamilie auf. Die A340?600 zeichnet sich auch durch niedrigere
Betriebskosten und ein besseres Ertragspotenzial als ihre Konkurrenzmodelle
aus, wobei sie keinerlei ETOPS-Beschränkungen unterliegt. In der ruhigsten
Passagierkabine überhaupt, die von Grund auf neu gestaltet wurde und sehr
großzügig ausgelegt ist, können 380 Fluggäste in einer normalen
Dreiklassenauslegung über Entfernungen von bis zu 13 900 km/7 500 nm
befördert werden.
Mit bisher 127 Bestellungen und Kaufverpflichtungen von elf Kunden haben die
A340?600 und ihr Schwestermodell, die A340-500 für extreme Langstrecken,
klar die Führung in ihrer Kategorie übernommen und behaupteten Ende 2000
einen Anteil von 59 Prozent an diesem Markt.
Airbus hat als einer von nur zwei Flugzeugherstellern auf dem Markt für
Passagierflugzeuge mit mehr als 100 Sitzplätzen bis heute über 4200
Bestellungen von mehr als 170 Kunden auf der ganzen Welt für sich verbucht.
Das Unternehmen tritt mit der weltweit modernsten und umfassendsten Familie
von Verkehrsflugzeugen an, hält dauerhaft etwa die Hälfte des entsprechenden
Marktes und ist hervorragend dafür gerüstet, diese Position auch in Zukunft
beizubehalten. Der Flugzeughersteller mit Hauptsitz in Toulouse (Frankreich) ist
ein Gemeinschaftsunternehmen von BAE SYSTEMS und EADS.
Weitere Informationen erhalten Sie von:
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE - PRESSEABTEILUNG
Tel.: [phone] oder 05.61.93.34.31
Im Internet abrufbar unter http://www.airbus.com

[Gatsby2]

So eine Überraschung. Vor ungefähr zwei Jahren wollten sie von einer Kooperation bezüglich der A-380 nichts wissen. Und jetzt kommen sie plötzlich an! Sollten sich die Gewichte doch ein wenig verschoben haben?

Monday April 23, 6:58 pm Eastern Time

Boeing sees room to cooperate with Airbus

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 23 (Reuters) - Boeing Co.(NYSE:BA - news) expects to
maintain its position as the world`s largest commercial aircraft maker this year and sees room
to cooperate with its arch-rival Airbus Industrie , the company`s chairman said Monday.

In comments to reporters, Boeing Chairman Phil Condit said the aerospace
giant expects to maintain its dominant market share of near 60 percent of the
sales from aircraft delivered in 2001, despite fierce competition from Airbus.

``I see now reason we can`t maintain the kind of market share we have had,``
Condit said.

Boeing`s launch of a fast, new mid-sized jet -- the Sonic Cruiser -- would help
the company maintain its lead in the market as measured by deliveries, Condit
said.

Although Airbus competes head-on in the market for commercial jets, Boeing
could still find room to cooperate with its parent company on projects, he said.

Airbus is 80 percent owned by European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co.
NV and 20 percent by British defence contractor BAE Systems Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BA.L).

Condit compared the potential for Boeing to work with EADS to the company`s relationship with defense giant Lockheed Martin
Corp. (NYSE:LMT - news). Although the two compete in the market for military aircraft, Boeing also acts as a supplier for the
Lockheed Martin`s F-22 fighter jets.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin are now vying for a contract to build up to 3,000 or more Joint Strike Fighters for the U.S. Air Force,
Navy, Marine Corps and Britain`s Royal Navy.

Condit said he was ``cautiously optimistic`` the JSF program, which he estimated could total up to $500 billion, would be approved,
although he said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has not given a clear signal yet on the administration`s policy on the new jet.

President Bush has promised to revamp the U.S. military for the 21st century, skipping some planned weapons upgrades to take
advantage of advances of technology.

[Micky_Maus]

++London, April 26: EADS, die britische BAE und die italienische Finmeccanica unterzeichnen einen Deal, wonach das neue Rüstungsunternehmen für Geschosse & Raketen (MBDA) zur Nr. 2 aufsteigt. Unangefochten bleibt Raytheon die Nr.1 in der Welt. Auf den folgenden Rängen sind Lockheed Martin und Boeing.++


Nachzulesen bei http://cbs.marketwatch.com

[Gatsby2]

Sonntag Nachmittag ist genau die richtige Zeit für einen kleinen Hintergrundbericht. Jane`s Aerospace hatte was zu möglichen Kollektivorders für Flugzeuge von Luftfahrtallianzen.

Can airline alliances buy aircraft?

Airline alliances and groupings are maturing to the
point where it seems like the next logical step is to
benefit from increased collective purchasing power. But
are they ready?

When the latest generation of airline alliances started
to take shape, many airline industry observers couldn`t
be blamed for thinking of them only in terms of
joint-marketing and joint-sales strategies. And perhaps
another attempt to globalise - or at least mimic the
effects of globalisation - in an industry that still remains
severely restrained by national barriers. But the airline
industry may have found a way to benefit from lower
costs, if airline alliances and airline groups can decide
on a common aircraft procurement strategy.

So far, airline alliances have been active in knocking
down the price of goods and services ranging from
catering, business services, aircraft spare parts and
even jet fuel. The next step is surely to buy aircraft
collectively. Or is it?

Oneworld and the Star Alliance have debated the
joint-order process for as long as they have existed but
neither of them has yet taken the plunge to use what is
probably some of the greatest procurement leverage
that Airbus Industrie, Boeing, Bombardier or Embraer
will have ever seen.

Airframe manufacturers don`t like talking aircraft orders
unless it`s a bagged deal and the competition is
smarting. Nevertheless, sources close to the
manufacturers revealed just how concerned some of
their sales forces are becoming. "When I had a
conversation with Airbus executives about the subject,
you could see that they were very concerned that they
may be at the mercy of the purchasing might of airline
alliances," one senior European airfinance banker told
Jane`s Transport Finance.

Sales force concern does not seem to be about the
concept of collective orders from airline alliances. The
concern stems from the fact that in a culture of
increasingly large-scale aircraft orders, the stakes are
bigger and bigger. If a manufacturer loses out in an
order battle, the impact will be a lot greater, as the
theory goes that more aircraft will be purchased by
fewer players.

Airbus set the precedent for the first large-scale aircraft
order in March 1998 from LanChile, TACA and TAM,
covering 90 firm orders for A319s and A320s, with 89
collective options on the two types of aircraft. Airbus
won what was described at the time as a pivotal victory
over Boeing in the narrow-body order wars, and also
managed to get a foothold in the Latin American
market. A lawyer close to the order estimated that
Airbus probably sold at a discount in the region of 24%
to 27% to win the deal.

Fleet planning representatives from Oneworld and the
Star Alliance have met officials from Boeing and Airbus
to discuss the future of collective aircraft ordering. But
to date, neither manufacturer has received an order
similar to the Latin American deal Airbus struck in
1998. Boeing said it welcomes dialogue with alliances
and expectes to receive a large order "in the next few
years".

"At the moment we do not see a lot of alliances
collectively ordering new aircraft," said Toby Bright,
senior vice president of sales for Europe and Russia at
Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes in Brussels. "Because
so many airlines are actually discussing various
alliances and mergers, they are not talking about
buying new aircraft as seriously as they could be.
Once the alliances are more finalised, consolidation
will be the key word."

The alliance perspective is complicated if nothing else.
The inherent nature of fleet planning takes a long-term
view on aircraft purchasing - which for some airline
alliance members is an issue which predates their
joining. For example, it would be very difficult to
imagine American Airlines entering into any collective
fleet planning and purchasing strategy given its 20-year
exclusive deal with Boeing which runs through 2017.

Based in Los Angeles, on secondment from Ansett
Australia, Alan Major heads up the Star Alliance
purchasing department. He covers a whole host of
purchasing for the alliance, from marketing to aircraft
parts, and the theory behind actually buying planes for
the group. "Our focus here is on the broader supply
chain," he said. "Our aim is not about beating up our
suppliers with our leverage. If we can find ways to cut
costs then we will."

For the leverage to work best, members of the Star
Alliance, like any other airline collective, need to take a
standardised approach, which is where they will benefit
from lower costs. But while there has been relatively
good communication between airlines in alliances
when it comes to individual members placing orders,
they do not yet seem ready to release their grip on
their individual aircraft orders. "Joint buying is a very
sensible idea. But every airline has its own parochial
ideas," said one financier who advises a major carrier.
"It seems that no airline wants to accept the price or
conditions based on what can be achieved by the
lowest common denominator in the deal."

Buying more of a standardised product is always going
to attract a better price from any seller, irrespective of
the product. But the recent round of commitments for
the A380 goes to show that individual members of an
alliance will have very different fleet requirements -
especially when it comes to specialised products like
the new Airbus jumbo.

At a Star Alliance press conference in London at the
end of March, Air Canada`s chief executive Robert
Milton said the A380 would not work for his airline
because it would only fill seats for four months of the
year. Conversely, Singapore Airlines` chief executive
Cheong Choong Kong said the arrival of the carrier`s 10
A380s will help solve certain capacity issues like the
greater demand it can serve on its Singapore-London
route.

At the same gathering, news of Boeing`s plans to
launch a super-fast plane, which is proposed to be able
to travel near to the sound of speed, was welcomed by
the Star bosses. Again the specialised nature of the
plane would attract some members of the same
alliance more than others. The A380 would obviously
benefit carriers in need of extra capacity, whereas the
super-fast Boeing product looks set to appeal to
carriers looking to score as much high-yield passenger
traffic as possible.

The Star Alliance, Oneworld and Skyteam all have
joint-purchasing jet fuel strategies, which are either in
place or being developed. The collective approach to
purchasing will no doubt give the groups of airlines
reduced fuel bills, but also suggest that where there is
distinctive commonality -- including with aircraft -- that
airlines can benefit. While it is always extremely
difficult to forecast such an order, some sources are
pointing to the Star Alliance as the lead in placing a
joint aircraft order.

If ordering aircraft collectively is proving to be a
logistical challenge, then the much-debated future of
collective financing could be beyond the realms of
many of the industry`s players.

The 1998 Airbus Latin American order shows that when
it comes to financing, airlines will guard their best deal
- and rightly so. "What we were able to offer Lan Chile
may not be the case for the other Latin American
carriers," Raphaelle Hernu at Credit Lyonnais in Paris
told Jane`s Transport Finance. "It`s a different situation
for each airline but they have all achieved a big
discount by ordering together."

Lan Chile is perceived to be the strongest of the three
airlines in the order. It is rated BBB by rating agency
Fitch IBCA. The airline also maintains a high profile
among international investors, even in the dwindling
tax-based finance markets where Credit Lyonnais is
hoping to finance some of the carrier`s deliveries.

Most bankers and financiers would point to the
business model of Flightlease, the SAirGroup company
which orders and finances on behalf of airlines in the
Swiss holding company and also members of the
Qualifyer Group. While its future may be in doubt as
part of the SAirGroup, Flightlease maintains that it will
continue its centralised finance role. "Flightlease can
offer better conditions through bulk financing, bigger
volume, better risk profile and looks at the whole
lifecycle of the aircraft," said a company spokesman.

The company said that its unique position allows it to
obtain better prices from the manufacturers. But
sources debate whether this relative purchasing
strength will remain if Flightlease is no longer part of
the SAirGroup. What Flightlease endeavours to offer its
airline clients may seem like a pure leasing company
activity, but it goes one step further with the larger
airline alliance.

The other airline alliances would have to consider the
viability of setting up a centralised finance and leasing
function. It could mean that airlines would no longer
take aircraft directly onto their own balance sheets but
would lease from the centralised financing function.
Essentially, leasing would dominate the airline
industry. But would the manufacturers agree to selling
to an industry based on the leasing of its products?
Would they have a choice? These questions are
probably a very long way off. The Star Alliance has
already considered such an idea as a centralised
leasing function - at least as a concept.

The regional jet market is also reassessing its take on
the industry as the very make-up of its buyers
changes. Neither Bombardier or Embraer are clear on
whether they would offer a better price on a collective
order.

Last year, Bombardier sold CRJs to Delta`s
subsidiaries ASA and Comair. But before they were
assumed by the major, they were treated as individual
customers. Whether they got a better deal is almost
impossible to tell as the regional market is as clear as
custard when it comes to pricing and finance. "Every
deal is unique," said a Bombardier spokesman.
Embraer is also dealing with how assumptions of
regional carriers into larger airlines is changing the way
it does business. The manufacturer used to deal with
Flandre Air, Proteus and Regional Airlines as separate
customers. But now it only has to deal with parent Air
France.

Chances are that airline alliances probably will start to
buy at least some aircraft together. But financing is
another issue. What history has shown so far is that
airlines have had a very bad time trying to co-operate
with each other in any kind of pact. The added capital
commitment of joint financing could prove too much.

http://www.janes.com/aerospace/civil/news/jtf/jtf010423_n_1.…