Company Watch - Airbus.

For more company news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/professional.htm Sep 4, 2006

Aer Lingus intends to order up to 14 long-haul aircraft, with negotiations starting this fall for 787s and A350 XWBs, the Financial Times reported. The airline firmed up an order for two A330s in March 2006. Aug 29, 2006

Cathay Pacific took delivery of its 100th aircraft, an A330-300, yesterday in Toulouse. The aircraft is painted in a commemorative livery and joins 26 of the type in the CX fleet. A further five will be delivered through 2008. Aug 30, 2006

EADS committed Tuesday to investing [euro]2 billion ($2.56 billion) in India over the next 15 years, funding that will go toward providing engineering and IT services and include the establishment of a massive Airbus training, maintenance and spare parts operation. Specifically, the Airbus parent will open the EADS Technology Centre India in the 2007 second quarter. Housed in the facility will be Engineering Centre Airbus India, a 100%-owned subsidiary of Airbus that will be the biggest component of EADS' Indian investment. Aug 31, 2006

EADS neither confirmed nor denied reports that Vneshtorgbank, a state-owned Russian bank, has acquired a 4.5%-5% stake in Airbus's parent company. Russian newspaper Vedomosti reported yesterday that Vneshtorgbank purchased $1 billion worth of EADS shares. Aug 30, 2006

Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 completes first flight. The first Engine Alliance GP7200-powered A380 completed its initial test flight Friday, returning to Toulouse after flying over southern France for 4 hr. 10 min.Engine Alliance, the GE/Pratt & Whitney joint venture, delivered the GP7200s in autumn 2005 but production delays not associated with the engines pushed back the first test flight several months. It becomes the fifth A380 in Airbus's test fleet following four Trent 900-powered aircraft. Six airlines have chosen the Engine Alliance GP7200, derived from the GE90 and PW4000 programs, to power a combined 82 A380s on firm order, according to Airbus. The remaining 58 on order will be powered by Trent 900s. The first GP7200-powered A380 is scheduled to be delivered to Emirates next year. GP7200 test engines accumulated 7,000 cycles in ground testing before being certified by US FAA late last year. The Engine Alliance GP7200, certified at 76,500 lb. thrust, has the capability to produce more than 81,500 lb. Aug 28, 2006

Northrop Grumman announced that Jet Airways chose its next-generation data internal reference units for use on A330-200s. Aug 30, 2006

Swiss International Air Lines plans to expand its fleet with addition of two A330-200s scheduled for delivery late this year. Aug 30, 2006

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) gained CAA approval to become the country's first carrier to use GPS-based RNAV technology on approaches. Two Thomas Cook A330s are fitted with RNAV hardware and software and 12 training captains have been involved in simulator training. The carrier is working in close conjunction with CAA to pilot the system, largely on its Canadian and Caribbean flights. Thomas Cook plans to have all 70 of its A330 pilots trained to use the system by year end. It is working on introducing RNAV on its 19 757s and eventually on its A320s. Aug 30, 2006

US Airways raises Airbus A321 commitment. On a high after posting a second-quarter profit of $305 million, US Airways yesterday announced an order for seven A321s and the conversion of existing orders for seven A319s and one A320 into an order for eight additional A321s. Engine selection was not announced. Owing to the merger of US Airways and America West, the carrier operates a mix of IAE V2500- and CFM56-powered A320 family aircraft although its A321s all are CFM56-powered, according to the Ascend CASE database. Airbus deliveries of the 15 183-seat, two-class aircraft will start in July 2008 and run through 2010. US originally had placed an order for 30 A320 family aircraft. It said it has "certain conversion flexibility" with the remaining 22. Aug 31, 2006