GLG News by Defense Industry Consultants (EU)

Despite its dual management, Airbus parent EADS doesn't always do things by halves. Last Friday's agm, for example, was a complete revelation, given that shareholders themselves voted on whether or not EADS should pay a 2006 dividend...Tail wags dog. Now that's different...

The French presidential campaign concluded yesterday with the election of long-time politician Nicolas Sarkozy as successor to Jacques Chirac, who steps down May 16. There is much on M. Sarkozy's plate and the international aerospace industry will get an early taste of just how the new man...

The takeover apple at UK carrier bmi ripened last week following strong 2006 results. The airline is seen as a prime target due to its Heathrow landing-slots and a chairman who's prepared to sell. To whom and for how much, though, are the questions. There are a few possible answers...

As forecast here recently, UK carrier Virgin Atlantic is to launch new transatlantic services from mainland Europe in an effort to exploit the market potential of 'Open Skies' and dilute the dominant influence of British Airways' at London Heathrow. Going global, the airline's chairman says...

With Delta out of Chapter 11 and Northwest set to follow, there are growing signs on the back of improved quarterly operating results that several US Majors are finally shaking off 9/11 and recession. Several, but not all. Boeing-led industry optimism augurs well too for the US in the rest of 2007....

 British Airways' interest in Spain's Iberia has nothing to do with any pro-merger European sentiment and everything to do with the UK airline's corporate paranoia as 'Open Skies' from Spring 2008 threatens to undermine its London Heathrow home-base pre-eminence.

 Boeing is in If-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it mode right now, following strong 2007Q1 results and cushioned by a record $262 billion business backlog. While increased productivity remains a top Boeing priority, defense-sector vertical-integration acquisitions are right up there too.

 The ongoing fallout from the A380 débâcle has thickened with Virgin Atlantic boss Sir Richard Branson effectively calling the A380 a financial disaster and then turning his back on Airbus with an order for 15 Boeing 787s. It never rains but someone in Toulouse gets wet...

 The latest Asian carrier to announce long-haul operations, AirAsia X, has ordered a fleet of Airbus A330s for what it claims will make it the world’s first truly long-haul low-cost carrier.Except, it won't, because this business model still hasn't been discovered. And never will be.

 Time is money, delays are expensive. The latest version of the Airbus A350 is two years behind schedule but is set to debut next week. Is Airbus throwing the baby out with the bathwater, however, by discounting so heavily? Is the A350XWB program financially crippled before it's even...