Airbus SAS appears to be nearing a decision to tell airlines the specifics of its plans to develop its new commercial jetliner, possibly to be called the A370, as it seeks to blunt Boeing Co.’s growing market dominance with the 777 and the new 787 Dreamliner.
Exactly what Airbus will do is not clear, but speculation about the A370 was the buzz in Paris the last two days during the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association.
Airbus isn’t talking, at least to reporters, but among the 260 airline members of the International Air Transport Association are several that want Airbus to spell out its plans, and soon. They already have ordered the A350, an airplane that Airbus is now widely expected to abandon in favor of an all-new design.
Qatar Airways has committed to buy 60 A350s. It is the biggest customer for the plane. Qatar has said it would reconsider Boeing’s 787 if Airbus is not forthcoming about its intentions for the A350 or a new design.
And Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Chew Choon Seng said his airline is likely to decide this month between Boeing’s 787 or the Airbus offering.
In early May, Singapore Airlines’ board postponed a decision on what was expected to be a substantial order for the 787 to allow Airbus more time to figure out what it would do in response to criticism that the A350 was inadequate.
The comments suggest that Airbus is finalizing technical details about its plane and will tell potential customers first before making any public announcement.
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An official announcement could come before or during the Farnborough Air Show outside London in mid-July. This is the industry’s biggest event of the year, with media coverage from around the world.
Some details about what Airbus is thinking could emerge next week when the airplanemaker hosts its annual technical briefing for analysts and the trade press in Toulouse, France.
Boeing, meanwhile, is sitting pretty. It is quietly going about the business of trying to sell airlines more 777s and 787s. Just last week, Boeing added 20 more 777s to its order book from unidentified customers.
On Tuesday, Continental Airlines announced that it was buying 10 more 787 Dreamliners. It had previously ordered 10.