ILFC urges Airbus to redesign new A350

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 30 Mar 2006 9:30

Airbus has been told by one of its biggest customers to redesign its planned A350 aircraft by the summer or risk being beaten by rival Boeing.

Speaking at an industry conference, Steven Udvar-Hazy, chairman and founder of leasing company ILFC, said Airbus could risk being stuck with a 25 per cent market share in the mid-sized widebody segment if it failed to build a brand new fuselage and wing for its next generation plane.

The A350, based on the fuselage of Airbus' existing A330 jet, was developed as a rival to Boeing's 787, which makes extensive use of composite materials and will use about 20 percent less fuel than current models.

Udvar-Hazy's comments were made despite ILFC agreeing to buy 12 A350 planes with options for eight more in November.

"I think the latest version of the A350 looks excellent. But it still has some elements left over from early models of the [manufacturer's] widebody family," said Mr Udvar-Hazy at the industry conference. "Airbus needs to address will they have a new family of aircraft," he said, a move that could cost it $10 billion to $12 billion in development costs and leave it four years behind the Boeing 787, which is due to enter service in mid-2008.

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