Airbus comes to Le Bourget Paris Air Show (16th to 24th June) following a record year for turnover and deliveries in 2000 and an equally promising first six months of 2001.
On Sunday 17th June 2001, at 10:30 a.m., Airbus will hold a press conference to discuss its commercial and industrial activities, and to brief participants on its very latest achievements. Further media briefings are also to be expected during the course of the week and, this year, a special website at www.airbus-lebourget.com will provide a detailed agenda of events, a guided tour of the stand, as well as an on-line magazine featuring in-depth articles, daily news updates, and live video footage of signing ceremonies, flying displays and other events.
The Airbus stand at Le Bourget 2001 will house four full-size symbolic aircraft cross-sections, representing each of the European manufacturer's highly successful aircraft families: the market-leading A330/A340 Family, the profit-making A300/A310 Family, the best-selling A320 Family and the all-new A380 Family of superjumbos. Models of the various family members as well as audiovisual presentations will be on display in each walk-in cross-section.
Airbus' first A340-600, which made its maiden flight in April, will be on flying display between 13:30 and 14:00 every day from the opening of the show until 19th June as well as on the last Saturday and Sunday. The A340-600, Airbus' largest airliner to date, is currently involved in a rigorous flight test programme which will culminate in certification and entry into service in 2002.
Two Airbus Corporate Jetliners, one operated by Aeroservices and the other by Qatar Airways, will arrive at the show on Monday morning 18th June and will be on static display as well as performing daily VIP flights. An A300-600ST Super Transporter with the most voluminous main deck cargo compartment of any aircraft flying - will arrive on Friday 15th June and will be open to visitors throughout the show. A United Parcel Service A300-600F freighter will also be on static display, demonstrating cargo door operation.
This year, visitors are also invited to explore two demonstration zones, the first of which features the new A340 cabin interior equipped with Airbus In-flight Information Services (AFIS). A modular information network for everyone on-board, AFIS ensures continuity in the traveler's chain of communication and brings the aircraft to the heart of the airline's information network with enhanced operational and maintenance applications.
In the demonstration zone, a 10-seat section of a real A340-600 cabin interior, complete with in-seat entertainment modules and laptop connections to e-mail and internet, provides visitors with an opportunity to sit back and enjoy the luxurious experience of long-haul flight with Airbus.
The second demonstration zone showcases Airbus Concurrent Engineering (ACE), which has enabled Airbus to set the standards for fully-integrated and collaborative aircraft development, using a 3-D environment as the natural working medium. ACE provides the ability to design, model, navigate and test the aircraft and its components, throughout its life cycle and from anywhere in the extended enterprise (from the supply chain all the way through to the customer).
Offering the most modern and comprehensive airliner family in the world, with over 4250 orders booked to date from nearly 180 customers, Airbus is the joint number one manufacturer in the market for large commercial aircraft. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is jointly owned by BAE Systems and EADS.
