Journalists will soon be invited to see Boeing’s 787 assembly line

Journalists will soon be invited to see Boeing’s 787 assembly line first-hand in what is to be the first public viewing of the new jet since the original model was unveiled last July. As part of the media visit to Boeing’s plant in Everett, Seattle, scheduled for later this month, reporters will be allowed access to both the second test-flight plane and the static plane on its testing rig. The Seattle Post Intelligencer takes the viewing as an indication that the Dreamliner programme is back on track. Boeing’s 787 may be around 15 months behind schedule, but the Airbus A380 was nearly two years late when the first plane was delivered for commercial use last year, adds the Intelligencer, and further delays could still be ahead after Airbus announced last week that it was reviewing its A380 delivery schedule. Seattle Post Intelligencer (07/05)

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker announced that the group would seek compensation from Boeing

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker announced that the group would seek compensation from Boeing in case the Dreamliner is delayed again, as stated in the contracts. Qatar Airways ordered 60 B787s. Deliveries originally were to happen in 2010 but there were postponed by a year. Mr. Al-Baker also said he would consider exercising an option for 5 B777s to compensate for the delay. Commenting on the group’s expansion plans, he revealed Qatar Airways probably would acquire additional A380 jets, “but I can not say by how much”, he concluded. AFP, AFX (08/05), Les Echos

Power 8. EADS officially confirmed the end of talks with Latecoere.

EADS officially confirmed the end of talks with Latecoere, but stated it would proceed with the divestment process. Speaking about the sites of Filton and Laupheim, it said the negotiations with GKN were still on their way, “with the view to conclude in the next few weeks”. A spokesman for EADS added that the group had not surrendered to unions’ pressure, but rather invoked the sluggish economic climate and the euro/dollar rate. On Wednesday, Fabrice Bregier explained that the plants of Meaulte and Saint-Nazaire would be placed into a newly-created, 100%-owned subsidiary, which could then be opened to partners, probably in 3-years time. The unit will be fully operational, with true independence in the decision-making process. It will have to implement R&D, competitiveness policies and may set up subsidiaries in low-cost countries. EADS reiterated that the breakdown of the talks would not affect its 2008 operating profit forecast. But analysts were not convinced, the Herald Tribune echoed, citing BGC Partners: “Power 08 is a shadow of what was originally intended”.

Airbus reported it booked 397 orders in the first 4 months of 2008

Airbus reported it booked 397 orders in the first 4 months of 2008 and delivered 162 airplanes. The European company still races ahead Boeing, which had 346 net orders in the same period and delivered 155 aircraft. AFP, Reuters, AFX (07/05), Le Figaro (08/05)

Maintenance market of 14 C-130 jets of the French army.

According to Sogerma Services’s unions, there would only be limited
chances to win the maintenance market of 14 C-130 jets of the French army. The Minister of Defence is remaining silent over the call for tender, due to be issued from July 1. Les Echos