The ceremonial unveiling yesterday of the Airbus A380, the world's largest airplane, is a reminder of what European governments, industry and skilled individuals can achieve when they co-operate. But the end result is not necessarily cause for uncritical celebration.
Airbus is the result of sustained co-operation between France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Aircraft engineers from each have designed planes which are then manufactured piecemeal in each of the countries and assembled in France. This mutually advantageous stimulus to industry and employment was reflected yesterday in Toulouse, the centre of the French aircraft industry and home of Airbus, when the prime ministers of each country attended the somewhat brash, almost gaudy, celebratory unveiling. There was much hyperbole, as is to be expected on such occasions, with President Chirac describing the project as "an immense European success" and the A380 as the "cruiseship of the skies".
The Airbus A380 is a marvel of engineering to be sure. Built to carry an astounding 555 to 800 people, it has two floors on a double deck the length of its fuselage and can offer beds and gaming tables. Its enormous wingspan of 90 metres is emphasised by the fact that 70 cars could be parked across it. Airbus is a plane that makes Boeing's 747 Jumbo Jet, now a surprising 35 years old, look small.
The A380 is costing Airbus and its shareholders EADS, the European aerospace group, and BAE Systems some €12 billion to develop. The company says it already has 149 orders or commitments, amounting to €40 billion, from 14 airlines for the aircraft which is due to take its first test flight in early April and enter commercial service next year. Airbus chief Noel Forgeard speaks confidently of notching up orders of 700 to 750.
Airbus says mass use of the A380 will mean fewer planes taking off and landing because fewer planes will carry more people. But the opposite is more likely to be the case: as has been seen with low fare travel, more and more people are taking to the skies and, just as road improvements generate greater use of cars, there is no reason to think that cheaper and readily available mass travel on long haul routes will do anything other than generate more flights. But mass air transport is having an increased impact on the environment - in terms of sprawling airport development and, perhaps more seriously, on increased greenhouse gas emissions. The A380 has reduced emissions but use of aircraft is overtaking technological improvements. There remains the lingering fear that bigger is not necessarily always better and a price, not fully known, may yet have to be paid.