European manufacturer studies short-range 'A30X' project alongside long-haul A350 in battle with Boeing
Airbus is studying a two-pronged attack on the markets that Boeing is targeting with the 7E7, with a new short-haul A300 successor likely to be developed alongside the proposed A350 long-haul widebody airliner.
Although Airbus is focused on developing the A330-derived A350 to rival the long-range 7E7 models, it has emerged that it is talking with suppliers about its new-generation short-haul widebody project, the "A30X", which is expected to enter service within 10 years.
Airbus has long felt it unfeasible to attack the short- and long-haul markets with variants of the same aircraft, as Boeing intends to with the 7E7. The European manufacturer revealed last year that it was studying a specialised widebody "regional people-mover" optimised for 1,850km (1,000nm) stages to replace the A300 - the A30X (Flight International, 9-15 December 2003).
French avionics supplier Sagem says it has been discussing technologies for the A30X with Airbus over the past two months.
According to Sagem's head of flight controls, Philippe Gouze, the aircraft would be "derived from the A300, with a lighter, improved fuselage", while using a version of the A380's flight-control system with added functionality. The aim is to develop a simpler wing that is cheaper to build, but retains the performance of more complex designs.
Sagem foresees A30X development getting under way after most of the development work on the Airbus A400M military airlifter is completed by 2006.
Airbus chief commercial officer John Leahy says the A30X is not a priority before the middle of the next decade. "We do not believe there is a market for such an aircraft at the moment. Our focus is on the A350."
ROB COPPINGER & AIMÉE TURNER / TOULOUSE
Source: Flight International