Airbus comes to Asian Aerospace 2002 (Feb 26 March 3) following a watershed year which saw the European aircraft manufacturer winning more than half of all aircraft orders in 2001, including a significant launch orderbook for the all-new A380 superjumbo.
On Wednesday, 27 February 2002, at 10:30 a.m., Airbus will hold a press conference to provide an update on commercial and industrial activities.
The Airbus exhibit at Asian Aerospace 2002 will focus on the core values of comfort, innovation and technical commonality which have made the Airbus product line a common sight in airline fleets in Asia and across the globe. Located in Hall A, stand number A701 in the EADS pavilion, the Airbus stand will house several scale aircraft models representing the European manufacturer's highly successful aircraft families, including the 555-seat A380, the new-generation A340-500/-600; as well as several members of the Airbus freighter family.
The stand will also be home to a full-scale A340-600 cabin mock-up integrating the Airbus In-flight Information Services (AFIS), mood lighting and E-connections demonstration modules. An onboard modular information network, AFIS ensures continuity in the traveller's chain of communication and brings the aircraft to the heart of the airline's information network with enhanced operational and maintenance applications.
One of the focal points in the Airbus exhibit this year is the new-generation A340-500/-600 aircraft, the ultra-long range, high-capacity versions of the A340 Family. The A340-500 offers the world's longest range capability, enabling non-stop flights between South-east Asia and the US for the first time. The A340-600, Airbus' largest airliner to date, made its maiden flight in April 2001 and is currently undergoing a rigorous flight test programme which will culminate in certification and entry into service in mid-2002.
The Asia-Pacific region is a core market for Airbus, with more than 500 aircraft of all types now in service with over 40 airlines across the region. The manufacturer has been especially successful in the widebody market in Asia, initially with the A300/A310 family and more recently with the market leading A330/A340 family, which have both been selected by almost every major Asian carrier. This success was reflected across the continents in 2001 with Airbus receiving 375 firm orders worth US$44.7 billion, representing 53 per cent of all new aircraft orders last year and 61 per cent in terms of value.
Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK and Spain as well as fully owned subsidiaries in the United States, China and Japan. Airbus is a joint EADS Company with BAE Systems.
