Airbus gave its strongest signal yet on Monday that it plans to build a new A350 jet to compete with Boeing's 777X, setting the scene for the next round of a mini-jumbo contest between the world's largest planemakers.
Airbus sales chief John Leahy said it planned to decide within "a couple of months" whether there was a market for an addition to its A350 family of long-range planes capable of leapfrogging the 406-seat 777-9, the first member of the 777X family to be developed. Mr Leahy was speaking at the Dubai Airshow where delegates were attempting to gauge Airbus's response after Boeing launched its 777X with record orders at the previous 2013 event.
Meanwhile, Bombardier will consider recruiting new backers for its oft-delayed CSeries jetliner program amid a push by Quebec to enlist the federal government's help.
"We're open to looking at other partnerships that would ultimately be good for our customers and good for Bombardier," Fred Cromer, head of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, said in Dubai. – Bloomberg