Page 32 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Online Magazine

FEATURE AIRBUS

Flying High

Incremental innovation will remain at the heart of Airbus’ product line
development By Subodh Agarwal

AIRbUS HAS SET ITS SIGHTS ON but which will be much more rapid in
another busy year of commercial and meeting customer demand.”
industrial activity, having delivered on its The latest example of incremental
commitments in 2014 – during which it innovation is the recent official launch for
achieved a new aircraft delivery milestone, Airbus’ longer-range A321neo version, as
attained an industry record backlog, and Air Lease Corporation becomes the first
marked new progress toward a more agile to select this option that incorporates
and rapid-reacting organisation. an additional fuel tank in the aircraft’s
Speaking at Airbus’ year-opening forward underfloor hold, as well as minor
press conference, President and CEO improvements on the wing and fuselage.
Fabrice Brégier said 2015 priorities in With an increased maximum takeoff
preparing the future include: the A320neo weight of 97 tonnes, the A321neo variant
(new engine option) jetliner’s service will have a 4,000-NM. range – the longest
entry in the fourth quarter; delivery start- of any single-aisle jetliner.
up in May of A330s with an increased John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating
242-metric tonne maximum takeoff Officer – Customers, said the longer-
weight; transition of the A330neo variant range A321neo version extends the
into detailed development later this year; A320neo Family’s market reach,
and production ramp-up for the A350-900, enabling this latest variant to operate
along with pre-assembly preparations for on such flights as the u.S. East Coast
the longer-fuselage A350-1000 version to Europe; from Northern Europe to
– the first of which is to enter the final Asia; on routes between Australia and
assembly line in early 2016. Southeast Asia; from Europe to the
“In the coming year, we also will focus Middle East and West Africa; and north-
on our competitiveness by continuing south routes in the Americas.
to reduce costs, being more efficient, “This aircraft goes after the market
faster in our developments, and further that everyone said needed a replacement:
increasing quality in our deliveries,” he segments flown by the old 757-200s,
told international reporters gathered in where single-aisle jetliners are used on
the Airbus Delivery Centre at Toulouse- long-range operations,” said Leahy. “We
Blagnac Airport in southwestern France. foresee some 500 aircraft in replacement,
Incremental innovation will remain but it’s more: there’s another 500 aircraft
at the heart of Airbus’ product line for growth from new market opportunities
development, with Brégier citing the that can be flown by the long-range The priority for Airbus today
A320neo Family’s success as an example of A321neo, which will burn about 30 per is finding other customers
how this approach meets market demand cent less fuel.” for the A380’s current version
because the A380 is the most
– having booked 3,621 orders through efficient
December 2014 for the new engine option 2014: a good year for Airbus’
family of single-aisle jetliners. single-aisle and widebody
jetliner families
Market endorsement of Airbus’ In addition to 2014’s strong bookings for
incremental innovation strategy Airbus’ single-aisle A320neo and A320ceo
“This is a very strong endorsement of (current engine option) families, last year
our strategy,” he explained. “What I marked a good performance for Airbus’
want is that we move faster, for more widebody products – including the A350
innovation that perhaps is simpler – XWB and the A330neo.
32 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM