Insider trading allegations come at an ill timing, when the EADS and Airbus managements

need to concentrate on delivering key new aircraft development programmes. Equity analysts generally do not see the AMF probe having much impact with the EADS share price at current levels. However, they focus on matters of greater importance for the group’s future profitability, namely the US/euro exchange rate, the oil price and the state of the commercial aviation cycle. In the US, three small airlines have collapsed into bankruptcy already, including Skybus, who had in place an order for 65 Airbus A319s. Many US airlines are also reducing capacity in the domestic market, in order to offset the ever-rising oil price. In Europe, leaders like British Airways have warned that profits would decline significantly this year. Still, assesses the British newspaper, Airbus and Boeing are well-cushioned by the record orders they won over the past three years. Financial Times