Leahy Calls The Idea 'Interesting'

Airbus appears to be in no rush to re-engine its A330 wide body airliner as it get set to launch the A350XWB.

In a media briefing at the company's Toulouse facility last week, Airbus COO, Customers John Leahy (pictured) said "It's an interesting idea," but that there are many factors that would be involved in such a decision, including cost and "potential cannibalization of our A350 program."

In a report appearing in Air Transport World online, Airbus EVP for strategy and marketing Kiran Rao said that there is no need to rush to re-engine the A330 because the current model is selling well. Rao said that the wing is about as efficient as it can be, so any redesign would be all about new engines. "We have been looking to see if the ceo is still more efficient (than a potentially re-engined airplane) and my opinion is yes." Rao said that on flights in the two- to three-hour range, the ceo would be more cost effective overall.

Still, he said that the company is "open to engine suggestions," and that it has not been determined that if the engine would be sole-sourced ... if the project happens at all.

FMI: www.airbus.com