Airbus is confident that the collapse of negotiations to divest three German manufacturing plants will not affect the timetable for A350 XWB development, and indicates that it is already in preliminary discussions with alternative partners for the sites.
Talks with German firm MT Aerospace broke down after the two sides failed to reach a "viable industrial and financial solution".
"In essence it's not having an impact on the A350 programme schedule," says Airbus. "We will make the investments for the long lead items in order that the A350 timetable is on track."
Airbus boss Tom Enders says that the airframer "simply could not get there" with the German firm. The airframer points out that the weak US dollar and problems with the financial markets have created a "difficult" environment which is "not conducive to an easy and smooth implementation" of the sale process.
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It indicates that it is already in contact with prospective alternative partners for the German sites but will not confirm their identities.
Airbus had previously shortlisted US firm Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, as a potential investor for some of the plants it is divesting. But Spirit was overlooked last December when Airbus selected MT Aerospace, GKN and Latecoere as the companies with which to hold final negotiations over the divestment.
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Source: Flight International
