Airbus Turns Out in Force at FIDAE

Airbus is continuing its strong support for FIDAE this year with a top ranking executive turnout and the display of two aircraft--the new 380-passenger A340-600 and the Airbus Corporate Jetliner.

The A340-600 is the world's longest airliner, at 246 feet, 11 inches, and the largest ever built by Airbus. The Corporate Jetliner is just about the smallest, seating 10 to 14 in typical luxury for business or head of state customers.

Airbus' team at FIDAE is led by its chief commercial officer John Leahy, who will give Airbus' view of global and South American air transport trends at a press conference here on Wednesday morning. He is supported by regional and Spanish sales chief Rafael Alonso, and Corporate Jetliner sales head Richard Gaona.

Demonstrating the Corporate Jetliner will be astronaut and test pilot Patrick Baudry, who joined Airbus in 1993.

Airbus has traditionally brought its latest airliners to FIDAE. Six years ago it demonstrated the prototype narrowbody A319, followed at FIDAE 1998 by the Airbus A330-200. Last show it demonstrated the A340-300 that had just been ordered by LanChile. It has since scored success with all these models in Latin America, most notably with the order two years ago by TAM Brazil, LanChile and Taca for up to 179 A319s and A320s.