On the eve of the release of a final ruling by the World Trade Organisation on the use of launch aid for Airbus' commercial aircraft programmes, Boeing has issued a statement on the funding the European airframer is set to receive for the A350.
Industry officials expect the final decision to stick closely to the interim 4 September decision that reportedly, at least in part, favoured Boeing.
Boeing VP of executive, legislative and regulatory affairs, Ted Austell, reiterated the company's longstanding position against commercial launch aid: "It is unfortunate and disappointing to see news reports quoting a senior German official saying that Germany is prepared to provide 1.1 billion Euros for the development of the Airbus A350 - a move that flies in the face of both the expected WTO decision and the rules-based global trading system we've all endorsed."
Austell addds that the decision will "set an important precedent for the broader, global aerospace industry", alluding to future development programmes from Canada, Brazil, Russia, China and Japan.
Additionally, Boeing welcomed the idea of negotiations between the US and EU to establish a set of rules for future programmes, but rejected any prospect of negotiations to create a settlement on "programmes and actions declared inconsistent with WTO obligations".
An interim decision on the EU countersuit filed on behalf of Airbus alleging that Boeing has unfairly benefitted from the commercialisation of research and development funds allocated to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operations is expected around the end of June, add industry officials.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
