Airbus Is Emphasizing Range Here,
As Its Farthest Flyer Has Taken Wing

Airbus is focusing its exhibit here on its ultra-long-range aircraft, the A340-500 and A340-600. The A340-600 made its first flight on April 23, and the shorter-bodied, longer-range A340-500 made a five-hour, 52-minute maiden flight on February 11.

The larger aircraft will enter service in mid-year, with Cathay Pacific the first regional customer. The 380-seat A340-600 can fly from central and north-east Asia to the U.S. Singapore Airlines will take delivery of the 313-seat A340-500, with enough range to link southeast Asia nonstop with the U.S., in late 2003. Both aircraft have been engaged in a tough nose-to-nose sales contest with Boeing's twin-engine long-range 777.

As non-stop flights start to exceed 18 hours, passengers might be pardoned for feeling the odd twinge of boredom. Shown here for the first time is an A340-600 cabin mock-up demonstrating the Airbus In-flight Information Service (AFIS) system, combining in-flight entertainment, laptop support and Internet access.

Airbus posted 274 net orders in 2001; 375 orders offset by 101 cancellations. The company was hit by the post-September 11 financial failure of Sabena and Swissair, and American's acquisition of TWA. Airbus plans to deliver 300 aircraft in 2002 and slightly less than that in 2003-in very much the same range as rival Boeing, which predicts 275 to 300 deliveries in 2003.

Last year's orders included 85 commitments for the new A380 superjumbo. First metal was cut on the A380 on January 23-accompanied for the first time by the manufacture of a carbon fiber panel for the center wing box. Singapore Airlines will be the world's first operator of the A380, taking delivery in the first quarter of 2006.