The first of Airbus’ five new Beluga XL airlifter “giants” will begin taking shape early next year, initiating the creation of a new jetliner fleet to transport complete sections of the company’s aircraft from production sites around Europe to final assembly lines in France, Germany and Spain. Beluga XL’s lower fuselage will be the same...

Airbus is making significant investments in revolutionary additive layer manufacturing technologies (3D printing) – with expanding capabilities that are demonstrating the company’s pioneering spirit to create new and better ways to fly. At the centre of Airbus’ innovative efforts is the company’s new additive layer manufacturing...

Marking a technological first for Airbus, the company has implemented a new industrial process that uses laser stripping to improve the return current from an aircraft’s electrical systems. This solution was applied by the A350 XWB project teams at Airbus’ Saint-Nazaire plant in France. On the A350 XWB’s centre fuselage section, all...

Airbus is providing immersive experiences with the company’s passenger cabins of tomorrow – leveraging “smart glasses” that integrate state-of-the-art 3D data technology for virtual, interactive tours of future aircraft interiors and their advanced functionalities. “Visits” with smart glasses – developed by Airbus virtual reality...

Airbus’ innovative Runway Overrun Protection System (ROPS) is proving its usefulness in daily airline service around the world, and will be further enhanced with additional functionality based on operational experience. Introduced on the A380 in 2009 – and now available on all in-production Airbus aircraft types – ROPS is the only...

Airbus spotlighted the suppliers of Buyer-Furnished-Equipment (BFE) for its jetliner cabin interiors, acknowledging those companies that achieved notable customer satisfaction levels in 2015 with awards given to these top performers during this week’s Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany. The suppliers recognised by Airbus were...

Airbus’ A380 is making its mark on the world’s busiest hubs – opening up new opportunities for these airports, as well as their passengers and airlines – with the aircraft’s unmatched spaciousness, efficiency and comfort. Currently operating at some 50 destinations, the double-deck, 544-seat-capacity A380 is helping airports across...

In serving one of the fastest-growing air transport regions worldwide, the Dubai-based Airbus Middle East organisation has seen a major growth in the numbers of Airbus-built jetliners flown by key operators throughout its area of responsibility. Airbus Middle East covers all aspects of the aircraft manufacturer’s business, including marketing,...

Airbus’ presence at this week’s FIDAE 2016 air show in Chile underscores the company’s leading presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, with more than 600 jetliners in operation and market share of 65 per cent based on the to-be-delivered aircraft backlog. Rafael Alonso, the Airbus head in Latin American and the Caribbean, said the...

An innovative new concept in jetliner cabins was launched this week with the Airspace by Airbus” brand, bringing together an enhanced experience for passengers and optimum performance for airlines based on four dimensions: comfort, ambience, service and design. Introduced with Airbus’ widebody A330neo (new engine option) version – and...

The first Airbus aircraft produced by the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, is scheduled to fly for the first time next week as part of its production testing program. Barring any weather or other pre-flight test factors, the A321 destined for Jetblue will take-off for the first time on March 21 at 9:15 a.m. CDT. A test...

India is playing an increasingly important industrial role for Airbus as this country’s air transportation market continues to grow. Airbus’ cooperation with India offers the benefits of cost-competitiveness and a highly-skilled workforce, and is fully aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” campaign to further...

A patented, paper-based Airbus solution that improves the process for installing cables and wires throughout an aircraft is now going global, underscoring the company’s continuing role as an innovation leader. The idea began with Marc Bennion, a long-time Airbus employee working at the aircraft manufacturer’s Broughton, UK facility –...

The Completion and Delivery Centre for Airbus widebody A330s at Tianjin, China –which began construction on March 2 – will benefit from its co-location with the existing A320 Family final assembly line in this northern Chinese city, where approximately 260 single-aisle jetliners have been built to date. Some 300 personnel, including...

Singapore Airlines has added the A350 XWB to its fleet this week – joining the carrier’s current Airbus widebody inventory that includes A380s and A330s. Having actively participated in the A350 XWB programme’s design and definition in close collaboration with Airbus, Singapore Airlines is equipping its aircraft with the carrier’s...