European ‘superjumbo’ an achievement of European integration

The world’s largest passenger plane ever, the double-decker
Airbus A380 is “a success of the European industrial
policy”, according to French President Jacques Chirac.

Airbus’s 555-seat A380 passenger aircraft was unveiled
on 18 January 2005 in Toulouse, France. A major ceremony
celebrating the inauguration was attended by many aerospace
industry and European government leaders who described the aircraft
as a “European success” and “symbol of economic strength and
technical innovation”. 

French, German, British and Spanish governments have closely
co-operated and financially supported the project from the
beginning. It was European industrial policy that helped make
Airbus the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer and
the superjumbo a symbol of building a more
integrated Europe. President Chirac pointed
out that deepening European integration is essential for
growth and employment. 

The jet has a range of up to 15,000 kilometres, thus
allowing for non-stop flights between Europe and
Asia. The first test flight is set to go
ahead in April 2005 and passenger flights
should begin in 2006. The freight version of the jet,
A380F, will enter into service in 2008. 

Boeing, Airbus’s main competitor, is developing a rival 7E7
Dreamliner, a smaller 250-passenger
plane, which will be unveiled at the end of 2006 and
is due to enter into service in 2008. This
plane will be able to fly direct to a wider number of
destinations, whereas many airports will need to adapt their
terminals to welcome Airbus’s ‘superjumbo’. 

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