A380 to be displayed at the show for the first time

Airbus comes to Asian Aerospace '06 with a positive outlook after achieving record orders, deliveries and profitability in 2005. During the year, Airbus received 1,111 gross orders, delivered 378 aircraft and recorded a profitability margin above its target of 10 per cent. The year also saw the industrial launch of the new A350 and the first flight of the A380.

Airbus orders from the Asia - Pacific region in 2005 accounted for over 45 per cent of the global total, with more than 500 firm orders from 13 customers. These included highly significant orders for the A380 from China Southern and Kingfisher in India, A330s from Air China & China Southern, and almost 270 A320 Family orders from low-cost carriers including AirAsia, Air Deccan, IndiGo and Tiger Airways. Total orders from the region stand at almost 1,500, with more than 800 aircraft of all types now in service with 55 airline operators across the region.

Airbus will underscore its strong presence in the Asia-Pacific marketplace with major participation at Asian Aerospace, to be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore, 21st-26th February. An A380 will be exhibited at the show for the first time and also is to take part in the daily flying display. The Airbus exhibit stand, located in Hall A (Booth 701), will include scale models of the full product line, with emphasis on the A380 and the newest Airbus family member - the A350, whose growing list of airline customers includes Bangkok Airways.

On Wednesday, 22nd February, Airbus will hold a press conference at 11.00 in the exhibition's press centre. Further media announcements and briefings will be held in the Airbus Chalet D-1-3.

Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has delivered more than 4,100 aircraft to 260 customers and operators world-wide, and boasts a healthy deliver backlog of well over 2,000 aircraft, which, at current rates, represents some four to five years of production. With an annual turnover of 22.3 billion in 2005, Airbus is a global company with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the U.S., China and Japan. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is a joint EADS Company with BAE Systems.

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