Integrated Airbus Seen as Priority

ILA 2000: Integration of the Airbus consortium into an economics-based company is a priority for EADS, and the task has been made easier by EADS' 80% ownership of the commercial aircraft program, new EADS CEO Rainer Hertrich told Show News.

"Don't pin me down on the next five or six years, but in the forseeable future we will have integrated Airbus, finished the consolidation process in missiles and space around Matra BAe Dynamics and Astrium respectively, and we will have a much stronger position in the US, especially in military and defense business.

"I would not exclude further consolidation in helicopters. It is obvious there are too many players in the market," he said.