February 27, 2007
WHO'S GONNA RIDE IN THESE THIRD WORLD DEATHTRAPS?:
Strike threats loom ahead of Airbus restructuring plan (David Robertson, 2/28/07, Times of London)
Airbus, the troubled European aircraft manufacturer, will announce its restructuring plans today amid political posturing and industrial action.Trade unions said yesterday that job losses and factory closures could spark Europe-wide strikes.
Workers at one Airbus plant outside Paris spontaneously downed tools and walked out yesterday at the threat that their facility could close.
And, really, aren't those the sorts of workers you want? Posted by Orrin Judd at February 27, 2007 8:18 PM
It would be poetic justice if the workers never touched those tools again.
At some point, EADS is going to have to decide what to do. The private stakeholders (Daimler, the French companies, and the small British part) will demand change or they will get out. The Russians will want to take full advantage of the mess. The Germans will dig in (Merkel is in a stronger position than Chirac and his soon-to-be successor). The French will have to either go along with Germany (and prop up the union jobs) or become junior partners.
"Thar, she blows!"
Posted by: ratbert at February 28, 2007 2:27 AMIsn't it time to create an Airbus category (for the left-most column)?
The issue of a strike doesn't mean the planes are unsafe; it just means that buyers might go elsewhere.
The Journal had a front-page article yesterday about the US airlines and their need for new aircraft (despite their $$$ problems) - basically, those airlines that need to order (American, Delta, United, and Northwest) should do so in the next year or so, because Boeing and Airbus are both loaded through about 2013 with existing models, and anyone who wants a Boeing 787 is going to have a long wait, because the Asians are lining up orders today.
Continental has the 'youngest' US fleet (at about 9 years average). Northwest has already ordered 787s, but most US airlines will need a new single-aisle plane to replace older MD-80s and 737s. Boeing is still building 737s, but the only mainline alternative now is the A320, and they are backed up, too.
Perhaps Embraer can fit the bill, with the 170 and 190. What think, OJ?
Posted by: jim hamlen at February 28, 2007 1:59 PMBrazil is less Third World than France these days, but they'll just make a knock-off of a big Boeing plane.
Posted by: oj at February 28, 2007 5:00 PM