ILFC COMMITS TO NEW A350 MODELS
RENEGOTIATIONS International Lease Finance has renegotiated its Airbus A350 order, replacing its original deal for 16 of the earlier model with 20 A350 XWBs. After placing its original order, ILFC chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy prompted a debate over Airbus's original plans for the A350. The manufacturer ultimately cancelled the original programme and launched the all-new XWB. Udvar-Hazy say that Airbus is now offering an outstanding product that "satisfies the market and our requirements". Deliveries are reportedly due to run from 2014 to 2017.
CANADA ENTERS WTO ROW OVER AIRCRAFT SUBSIDIES
SUBSIDIES As the dispute over large commercial aircraft aid rages at the World Trade Organisation between Europe and the USA, Canada has made known its concerns about Europe's effort to expand the definition of subsidies to airframers. In a third-party submission in the WTO case filed by Europe, Canada says it is participating "because of its role as one of the world's major aircraft producers and its interest in the interpretation of the agreement on subsidies and countervailing measures". A WTO panel is expected to rule on the US case against Europe on launch aid and other subsidies for Airbus late this year or early in 2008, while a ruling on the European case is expected by mid-2008.
EASYJET AIMS TO REDUCE GB AIRWAYS COSTS
ACQUISITION UK budget carrier EasyJet is expecting to see a positive contribution from its acquisition target, GB Airways, within its current financial year. EasyJet has agreed to acquire the British Airways franchise carrier from the Bland Group for £103.5 million ($212.2 million). The airlines are aiming to complete the deal, which remains subject to regulatory clearance, by no later than 31 January 2008. EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison says that GB Airways has been operating "with a lot of cost imposed on it through the BA franchise agreement. We are going to replace that with the EasyJet model, which is clearly substantially more efficient."
Europe-india aviation summit bid for co-operation
SAFETY Praful Patel, India's minister for civil aviation, visited the European Aviation Safety Agency headquarters in Cologne on 23 October to discuss co-operation in civil aviation safety. EASA says its executive director Patrick Goudou organised the meeting as a follow-up to the successful first EU-India Aviation Summit in New Delhi in November last year. Technical co-operation between India and the EU includes the exchange of expertise in areas such as maintenance and the development of safety management systems. Goudou says: "India is an important partner of the EU and I am happy that this co-operation is extending to the area of aviation safety."
Source: Flight International
