Julian Moxon/toulouse
AIRBUS INDUSTRIE is receiving "very positive responses" from the market on financing for its planned 555- to 960-seat A3XX family. "We hope we will soon be in a position to integrate people into the programme", says Jurgen Thomas, head of the newly created large-aircraft division within the consortium.
Outside partners are being asked to come up with around 40% of the $8 billion development costs of the A3XX in return for a similar share of the work. The rest will come from Airbus internal funds and repayable government loans. He adds that cash-rich US companies, such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are interested in joining the programme as well as "several" Far East concerns.
"Authority to offer", or the official launch of the initial A3XX-100, is set for late 1998, with final go-ahead a year later, if there is sufficient market interest. This would result in the first A3XX entering service in mid-2003. "Some airlines want it earlier," says Thomas, "but they are happy to wait a couple more years to get the right product". He predicts market demand for the A3XX-100 and the stretched -200 for up to 700 aircraft to 2015, yielding an annual production rate of around 50 aircraft.
Airbus, like Boeing with its stretched 747-500 and 747-600, has asked all three engine makers to come up with new powerplants for the A3XX.
"If we want to reach the target of 17% lower direct operating costs than the Boeing 747-400, we must have engines that are matched for the entire family," says Thomas.
Source: Flight International
