Airbus Industrie is one of the major participants at Asian Aerospace 2000 being held at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore from Monday February 21st to Saturday February 26th. Its exhibit (Hall 1 A701) focuses on the core values of comfort, innovation and technical commonality which have made the Airbus product line the preferred choice of airlines for the 21st Century.
Specific products featured at the exhibit with scale models include the new A340-500/-600 series, which is set to enter service in 2002. Together, the 313-seat A340-500 and 380-seat A340-600 bring new levels of operational efficiency to the higher capacity long haul market, as well as the world's longest range capability. With the A340-500, non-stop service from South East Asia to the U.S. is possible for the first time.
Importantly, the four engine design of the A340 means that it is free of the constraints associated with the operation of twin engine aircraft on very long flights over remote areas, making it especially suitable for transpacific or transpolar operations. This design feature has played a key role in establishing the A340-500/-600 series as the preferred choice in its category, having already won 118 orders and commitments from eight customers.
A section of the Asian Aerospace exhibit also is devoted to the all-new 555-seat A3XX project. With technical specifications now finalized, Airbus Industrie is currently approaching interested airlines to get a clear indication about their commitment to the project which, subject to a satisfactory launch base, could enter service in late 2005. Asia will be a key market for the new airliner, with carriers in the region expected to take delivery of half of the 1,200 passenger aircraft required in the 400-plus seat category over the next 20 years.
Airbus Industrie comes to Asian Aerospace 2000 following a decade of sustained growth, which has seen it steadily increase its market share to the point where it now holds about half of all orders for large civil aircraft for future delivery. In 1999, the consortium reinforced its position further with 476 firm orders from 34 customers, accounting for 55% of all new firm orders recorded during the year.
