Lots of commentary in the US and European press about the new super-jumbo Airbus 380 jet that has a capacity of up to 800 passengers. This is from Forbes:
French President Jacques Chirac and other European leaders struck a triumphal note at the ceremony, hailing the A380 as a sign of Europe’s capacity to generate world-beating industries.
"It’s a symbol of economic strength, technological innovation, the dedication of the work force that built it and above all of a confidence that we can compete and win in the global market," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said.
But the A380, which was partially funded by European governments, amounts to a huge bet that carriers need ever-bigger planes to process a growing numbers of passengers through the busiest hub airports. Airbus is investing $13 billion to develop the plane, which has a list price of $280 million apiece and is scheduled for its first commercial flight in 2006.
It was German chancellor Gerhard Schröder who alluded to the geopolitical rivalry between the EU and the United States.
For Gerhard Schröder, Airbus seemed to amount to the revenge of “old Europe” against the Americans who had relegated Germany to that category. “This is a triumph of science and engineering . . . The tradition of good old Europe made this possible,” the Chancellor said. “Our Europe is still in a position to give impulse to innovative actions.”
Der Spiegel exhibits a bit of Schadenfreude today in surveying the reactions of the US press to the Airbus announcement.
